Marilyn Cahatol

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Villanueva on Tuesday during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace. Ryan Baldemor, PPA

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SC Associate Justice Villanueva

Pia Gutierrez

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174952891884420250610-marcos-raul-villanueva-PPA6987.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Villanueva on Tuesday during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace. Ryan Baldemor, PPA"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Villanueva on Tuesday during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace. <em>Ryan Baldemor, PPA </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed confidence in newly-appointed associate Supreme Court Justice Raul Villanueva, noting his wealth of experience in the country&#x27;s justice system.</p><p>The Philippine leader on Tuesday administered the oath of office to Villanueva, his first appointee to the Supreme Court.</p><p>&quot;We are very happy for this appointment because it is as our new justice was saying, and I was telling him that it is a well deserved appointment. He has a wealth of experience as a judge, an RTC judge, until 2002, and then he has from 2002, and since 2010, he has worked in the Supreme Court. and there therefore he is well versed in all that needs to be done for the proper and smooth function of the court,&quot; he said.</p><p>Villanueva served as court administrator of the Supreme Court. He started his career in the judiciary in 2002 as the presiding judge of the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 255. </p><p>He also served as executive judge of the Las Piñas RTC. </p><p>He graduated with a bachelor&#x27;s degree in economics and a bachelor of laws degree, both from the University of the Philippines.</p><p>Marcos Jr. hoped that Villanueva&#x27;s appointment will continue the trend of a closer relationship between the Supreme Court and the Executive Department that the administration has begun in the past years.</p><p>&quot;And I know that the appointment of our new justice will continue that trend and bring the departments of government even closer than before, and so that the function of government is smoother, better, and that we are unified in our goal to making life better for all Filipinos. We all have our part to play, and Justice, you have a new part to play,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/9/marcos-jr-names-raul-villanueva-as-supreme-court-associate-justice-2354">Marcos Jr. names Raul Villanueva as Supreme Court associate justice</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>UPHOLDING JUSTICE</strong></div><p>Villanueva had vowed to uphold the constitutional right of Filipinos to speedy disposition of cases during his interview with the Judicial and Bar Council last May 21.</p><p>Asked about his judicial philosophy, Villanueva stressed the importance of avoiding delays and backlogs in courts. </p><p>&quot;I always believe that our work despite whatever it is we are doing, if we are not able to decide on cases in the most expeditious manner, it will speak volumes about us, to me, all the hard work will not bear any positive outcome if we are not able to do that,&quot; Villanueva said.</p><p>Marcos&#x27;s first and so far only appointee in the Supreme Court, however, refused to talk about politics during his one-hour interview with the JBC.</p><p>Asked which decision of the Supreme Court he had disagreed with or had reservations, he said he would have wanted the court to dwell further on the dismissed Falcis III vs. Civil Registrar General case.</p><p>He had another case in mind but refused to divulge to the JBC.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t want to say the other one, Your Honor, it&#x27;s a political case,&quot; Villanueva said.</p><p>During his interview, Villanueva was asked if he would acquit an individual accused of plunder, or human trafficking, or other heinous crimes on procedural grounds. </p><p>&quot;As a former judge, I would not want, especially when it comes to heinous crimes, your Honor, that procedural grounds will be used for purposes of acquitting an accused, I would rather that the matter be decided on the merits,&quot; Villanueva said.</p><p>Villanueva joins a court that is dominated by twelve appointees of former President Rodrigo Duterte, including current Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.</p><p>The two other justices, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa were appointed by former President Benigno Aquino III.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0y0_hRA-BxU?si=WnO2b1zjtdxPEhXf" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed confidence in newly-appointed associate Supreme Court Justice Raul Villanueva, noting his wealth of experience in the country’s justice system.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed confidence in newly-appointed associate Supreme Court Justice Raul Villanueva, noting his wealth of experience in the country’s justice system.

Marcos Jr. administers oath to new SC Associate Justice Raul Villanueva

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Marcos Jr. administers oath to new SC Associate Justice Raul Villanueva

Pia Gutierrez,

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 10, 2025 12:19 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 10, 2025 12:29 PM PHT

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