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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ilocos Sur hails appointment of SC Justice Raul Villanueva

Ilocos Sur hails appointment of SC Justice Raul Villanueva

Published Oct 12, 2025 01:47 pm
The members of the Ilocos Sur provincial board hailed the appointment of their “ka-probinsya” (province mate) Raul B. Villanueva as associate justice of the Supreme Court (SC).
In a resolution, the provincial board stated that Villanueva’s achievements “are a source of profound pride and admiration, not only within the legal community, but also in his hometown of Narvacan and throughout the province.”
It also stated that Villanueva “is the first Ilocano from Ilocos Sur to be appointed to the SC and the first court administrator from Region 1 to ascend to the Highest Court.”
The resolution was signed by Board Members Dr. Ericson G. Singson, Ronnie R. Rapanut, Christopher Abrahan R. Baterina, Benjamin N. Maggay, Virginia Cordero-Pe Benito, Leopoldo G. Gironella Jr., Francisco Arturo O. Ranches III, and Mildred M. Elayda, and ex-officio members Jaime M. Singson, Constante V. Benzon, and Elpidio A. Quines Sr.
It was attested by provincial secretary and lawyer Maria Ellen D. Cabatu, and approved by Gov. Jeremias “Jerry” C. Singson.
Villanueva was appointed 195th SC associate justice by President Marcos on June 10, 2025. He was the first appointee of the President to the SC.
He finished his elementary education as a valedictorian from the Narvacan South Central School and his high school from the Lourdes School in Quezon City.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman in Quezon City in 1985 and obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from UP’s College of Law in 1990.
Justice Villanueva started his career in the judiciary in 2002 when he was appointed judge of the regional trial court (RTC) in Las Pinas City. He also served as RTC judge in Manila and Taguig City.
He was an active member of the Philippine Judges Association where served as executive vice president.
In 2010, Justice Villanueva was appointed deputy at the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) through which the SC exercises administrative supervision over all trial courts in the country.
He was a professorial lecturer at the Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJa), SC’s education arm, and later became a member of the academy’s board of trustees representing OCA, and consultant of the Judicial and Bar Council.
At the same time, Justice Villanueva was a part-time professor at the New Era University-College of Law on Legal Ethics, Judicial Ethics, and Insurance Law, and at the UP Law Center for its Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Program and a pioneer lecturer of its Paralegal Training Program.
On March 1, 2022, Villanueva was appointed court administrator.
As court administrator, he provided policy directions and directives through vital circulars and other issuances for the efficient administration of justice and the speedy disposition of cases before all trial courts nationwide.
He also clarified and disseminated SC rulings that impact on court cases and proceedings, and addressed the concerns of litigants, law practitioners, justice sector stakeholders, and court users.
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