Circling the walls of the Supreme Court is the next likely Chief Justice who hails from the Ilocos Region, the bailiwick of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“There are strong rumors that Associate Justice Raul Villanueva will be the next Chief Justice. He is considered close to Bongbong and he is the only appointee of President Marcos Jr. on the bench. The other justices are all appointees of Duterte,” a Tribunal insider told Nosy Tarsee.

Villanueva is a native of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, who earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, in 1985 and obtained his Bachelor of Laws (now Juris Doctor) degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1990.

“Seniority is no longer the norm in the Supreme Court. That shift was initiated by former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno,” the source said.

Apart from Villanueva, another justice who is being considered is Justice Marvic Leonen, a known ally of the Aquino family.

Leonen is one of the most senior Associate Justices compared to Villanueva, according to the source.

If he is appointed, Villanueva will be the first Court Administrator from Region 1 to be elevated to Chief Justice.

“As they say, weather-weather lang yan,” the source said.