Marcos Jr. appoints Villanueva as new SC Associate Justice

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. appointed Raul Villanueva as the new Supreme Court Associate Justice, replacing Justice Mario Lopez who retired on June 4.

Villanueva, the 195th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, was sworn into office on June 10, 2025.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo administered the oath-taking ceremony.

Villanueva brings over 20 years of judicial experience, having served as Presiding Judge of the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 255 since 2002.

He previously held positions as Executive Judge of the RTC in Las Piñas and Deputy Court Administrator.

He most recently served as Court Administrator from 2022 until his appointment, overseeing more than 2,000 judges and 26,000 court personnel nationwide.

A native of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, he is the first Court Administrator from Region I.