Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo administered the oath of Associate Justice Raul B. Villanueva, joined by his family, on 10 June 2025 at the Supreme Court Session Hall in Manila.

The former Court Administrator officially became the 195th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Villanueva is also the first appointee to the Supreme Court by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The oath-taking was witnessed by Justice Villanueva’s family and colleagues, along with Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Rodil V. Zalameda, Samuel H. Gaerlan, Jhosep Y. Lopez, and Japar B. Dimaampao.

Villanueva brings more than 20 years of experience in the judiciary. He began his judicial career in 2002 as Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 255, Las Piñas City, and concurrently served as Acting Presiding Judge in two other courts: a drugs court in Taguig City and a family court in Manila.

In 2009, he was appointed Executive Judge of the RTC in Las Piñas. A year later, he became Deputy Court Administrator, supervising courts across Judicial Regions 1 to 12. He rose to Court Administrator in 2022, overseeing over 2,000 judges and 26,000 court personnel nationwide. A native of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, he was the first Court Administrator from Region I.

Under his leadership, the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) implemented key reforms, including the creation of the Office of the Regional Court Manager to decentralize administrative functions, allowing judges to focus more on resolving cases. During his term, case disposition rates in first- and second-level courts improved from 40% in 2021 to 49% in 2024.

Villanueva also issued important OCA circulars, including protocols for videoconferencing hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic, procedures for videoconferencing hearings involving deaf litigants and witnesses, and guidelines to expedite the release of persons deprived of liberty who had completed their sentences.

Additionally, he signed 11,493 appointments of court personnel in first- and second-level courts, representing about 41.3% of all currently filled positions in the lower courts.

Before joining the judiciary, Villanueva worked in Congress, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Privatization and Management Office, and private legal practice. He also served in leadership roles with the Philippine Judges Association, advocating for better pay and benefits for judges.

An educator, Villanueva has taught at New Era University College of Law, the University of the Philippines Law Center, and the Philippine Judicial Academy.

In 2023, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association honored him with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Court Administration and Public Service. More recently, he was commended by the Presidential and National Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Financing and Counter-Proliferation Financing Coordinating Committee for his key role in helping remove the Philippines from the Financial Action Task Force Grey List.

Villanueva graduated valedictorian from Narvacan South Central School, completed high school with honors at Lourdes School of Quezon City, and earned his Economics degree in 1985 and Law degree in 1990, both from the University of the Philippines.

His appointment to the Supreme Court marks a new chapter in a career devoted to justice, reform, and public service.