NEW Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Villanueva yesterday said he will push for the translation of court decisions into Filipino so that even ordinary Filipinos will be able to understand them.
Villanueva made the remarks when he attended his first flag-raising ceremony as an associate justice of the High Court last Monday.
He said this will be in “faithful obedience to the Constitution,” which declared Filipino as the country’s national language.
He added that translating court decisions into Filipino will enable more people to fully grasp and understand key rulings and doctrines.
Villanueva also told court officials and employees of his commitment to uphold the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
“I aim to serve genuine justice in the most expeditious manner to those who deserve it, without fear, favor, discrimination or preference, in a just and unbiased way, whatever is the status in life of the concerned parties, providing doctrines that will not only enrich jurisprudence that will guide the Bench and the Bar, but will judiciously settle actual controversies or prevent any grave abuse of discretion,” he added.
He also underscored the importance of collaboration among the branches of government to ensure the smooth and effective delivery of public services.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said appointing Villanueva to the post will continue the trend of a closer working relationship between the SC and the executive branch.
Villanueva took his oath last week as the newest Associate Justice of the 15-member SC.
He is the President’s first appointee to the High Court and is the 195th associate justice.
Before his appointment, Villanueva served as Court Administrator
