MANILA – Leadership has been passed in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), but outgoing president, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas is confident the new leaders will be more than capable of steering the prelates’ group in a time of unique challenges to the Church.
The newly elected president, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, has been described in some media reports as someone for whom President Rodrigo Duterte – known in the past for his scathing attacks on the Catholic hierarchy – has a soft spot, but is nevertheless described by his peers as independent and capable. He is the 20th president of the organization.
The election of new officers at CBCP took place just as some of the most outspoken bishops have taken high-profile roles in denouncing alleged abuse in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, and the initiative of some supporters to push a “revolutionary government” that one leading prelate said was a template for authoritarian rule.
Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who provided sanctuary to the family of witnesses in the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos, was named CBCP vice-president. Meanwhile, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who has called the proposed “revgov” immoral and wrong, which is why the public must not follow government officials if they intend to push for it, heads the Episcopal Commission on the Laity.
“Ang pagiging officer ng CBCP ay hindi nakasalalay sa experience. Ito ay nakasalalay sa awa ng Diyos at alam na alam ko na ‘yung Espiritu Santo na ibinigay sa kanila nang sila ay maging Obispo, ‘yun din ang Espiritu Santo na gagabay sa kanilang paglilingkod sa CBCP (Being a CBCP officer does not depend on experience. This depends on the mercy of God, and I know very well that the Holy Spirit given to them when they became bishops is the same Holy Spirit who will guide them as they serve the CBCP),” Villegas said in a report by Radio Veritas.
The turnover ceremony is expected to be held Friday, which coincides with the start of their term that will end on November 30, 2019.
The following is the list of new CBCP officials.
President
Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles
Vice President
Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David
Treasurer
Palo Archbishop John Du
Secretary general
Father Melvin Mejia
CBCP Regional Representatives
Luzon:
North – Nueva Segovia Archbishop Marlo Peralta
Central – Bishop Ruperto Santos
South – Bishop Jose Rojas
Southeast – Bishop Victor Ocampo
Southwest – Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista
Visayas:
East – Bishop Isabelo Abarquez
West – Capiz Archbishop Jose Advincula, Jr.
Mindanao:
North – Ozamiz Archbishop Martin Jumoad
South – Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo dela Cruz
CBCP Commissions:
Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities
Bishop Jose Cabantan
Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate
Bishop Sofronio Bancud
Episcopal Office on Bioethics
Bishop Ricardo Baccay
Episcopal Commission on Canon Law
Bishop Jacinto Jose
Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education
Bishop Roberto Mallari
Episcopal Commission on Clergy
Bishop Buenaventura Famadico
Episcopal Commission on Cultural Heritage of the Church
Bishop Julito Cortes
Episcopal Commission on Culture
Bishop Elenito Galido
Episcopal Commission on Doctrine on the Faith
Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo
Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs
Bishop Angelito Lampon
Episcopal Commission on Family and Life
Bishop Gilbert Garcera
Episcopal Commission on Health Care
Bishop Patricio Buzon
Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples
Bishop Prudencio Andaya
Permanent Committee on International Eucharistic Congress
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma
Episcopal Commission on Inter-Religious Dialogue
Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar
Episcopal Commission on the Laity
Bishop Broderick Pabillo
Episcopal Commission on Liturgy
Bishop Victor Bendico
Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People
Bishop Ruperto Santos
Episcopal Commission on Mission
Bishop Arturo Bastes
Episcopal Commission on Mutual Relations
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma
Episcopal Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filippino
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle
Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care
Bishop Joel Baylon
Permanent Committee on Public Affairs
Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista
Episcopal Commission on Seminaries
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza
Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace
Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona
Episcopal Commission on Social Communications
Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara
Episcopal Commission on Vocations
Bishop David William Antonio
Episcopal Commission on Women
Capiz Archbishop Jose Advincula, Jr.
Episcopal Commission on Youth
Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian
National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal
Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz
