Former local government undersecretary Lord Apalisok Villanueva has been appointed by President Marcos as associate justice of the Sandiganbayan.

Justice Villanueva took over the post of Associate Justice Rafael R. Lagos who retired last Dec. 22.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo administered the oath of office to Villanueva last Monday, Feb. 3, at the Supreme Court’s Dignitaries Lounge.

Villanueva spent 16 years in private law practice before entering government service as Quezon City assistant city administrator for general affairs. 

He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) and was awarded the Law Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence and membership in the Order of the Purple Feather Honor Society.