Marcos swears in new SC Justice Raul Villanueva: ‘Well deserved’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center) administers the oath of office to newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Villanueva (6th from left of persons standing). (Photo from MPC)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday administered the oath of office to newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Villanueva.

In his remarks, Marcos said he was “very happy” with Villanueva’s appointment, calling it “well-deserved.”

“He has a wealth of experience as a judge, RTC [Regional Trial Court] judge until 2002. And since 2010, he has worked in the Supreme Court,” he recalled.

“And therefore, 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,” Marcos noted.

“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.

READ: New Supreme Court associate justice named

Villanueva’s appointment was announced on Monday evening.

He will replace Associate Justice Mario Lopez, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 on June 4./apl