President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is expected to name Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva to the Supreme Court, marking his first appointment to the 15-member High Court. Villanueva would replace Associate Justice Mario Lopez, who retired on 4 June upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

The anticipated appointment gives Marcos his first opportunity to shape the composition of the tribunal, which is poised to decide major legal and constitutional issues in the coming years.

Villanueva, a native of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, brings more than two decades of experience in the judiciary. He earned an economics degree in 1985 and a law degree in 1990, both from the University of the Philippines Diliman.

His judicial career began in 2002 as presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 255 in Las Piñas City. He later served as executive judge of the Las Piñas RTC and as executive vice president of the Philippine Judges Association.

Since 2010, Villanueva has held key positions in the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), first as deputy and then as court administrator—the highest-ranking official in the OCA. In these roles, he oversaw nationwide court operations, chaired critical Supreme Court committees, and led reforms to improve judicial efficiency and accountability.

Legal observers view Villanueva’s expected appointment as strategic, citing his extensive institutional knowledge and management expertise. His presence on the bench will be crucial as the Court handles sensitive cases involving constitutional amendments, governance reforms, and controversial laws.

Beyond administration, Villanueva has contributed significantly to judicial education. He is a professorial lecturer and vice chair of the Court Management Department at the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), where he has helped shape the training of judges and court personnel nationwide.