Marcos swears in Villanueva as new SC associate justice

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. administered Tuesday the oath of office of Raul Villanueva as Supreme Court Associate Justice. 

Villanueva was with his family members during the oath taking.

He replaced Associate Justice Mario Lopez, who retired on June 4.

In his speech during the oath taking ceremony, Marcos said Villanueva's latest designation was a well-deserved appointment given his wealth of experience in the service. 

He expressed belief that Villanueva's appointment would ensure a closer relationship between the executive and the judiciary. 

''He is well-versed in all that needs to be done as for the proper and smooth function of the court,'' the President said.

''And besides that, we have begun a trend between the Supreme Court and the executive of a closer relationship in the past couple of years. 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,'' he added.

According to the Supreme Court's website, Villanueva started his judicial career in 2002 when he was appointed judge of Branch 255 of the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

He was an acting presiding judge of Branch 267 in the Taguig City RTC and an acting presiding judge of Branch 4 in the Manila RTC. He was also an executive judge of the Las Piñas City RTC.

Villanueva became deputy court administrator in 2021 and court administrator in 2022. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News