After nine nominations by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), Court of Appeals Associate Justice Martin S. Villarama finally took his oath Saturday before Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno as the newest member of the 15-man Tribunal.

Justice Villarama, the former Chairman of the Appellate Court’s Third Division will take the seat vacated by Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago who retired last October 4.

His appointment left the Tribunal with only one vacancy following the retirement of Associate Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing last Friday. The President is mandated by law to fill up the vacancy in 90 days.

Villarama, 63, the husband of SC En Banc Court Clerk of Court Luisa Dizon-Villarama is the 166th justice to be appointed to the High Court. This is the second time that a husband and wife will work together in the en banc.

Atty. Luzviminda Salgado-Puno, the late wife of then Associate Justice now Chief Justice Puno was the en banc Assistant Clerk of Court when the Chief Justice was appointed to the Judiciary by then President Fidel V. Ramos in 1993. She eventually became the en banc Clerk of Court until her retirement.

Justice Villarama obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) after completing a (BS) Business Administration course from De La Salle University.

He began his law career as a technical assistant in the Legal Research Division (now Office of the Chief Attorney) of the SC but left the judiciary to work as legal counsel for various private corporations.

He was appointed RTC Judge of Pasig City in 1986 and served as Executive Judge from 1992 to 1996.

In March 1998, Justice Villarama was appointed to the Court of Appealls where he served as Chair of the CA Fifth Division and supervising justice of the Judicial Records Division.