MANILA – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reelected Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao as its president.
The vote gives Archbishop Valle, 67, his second and last term to lead the conference, during their plenary assembly in Manila on Saturday, July 6. His reelection would also make him more visible face of the church as it gears for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.
Archbishop Valles was first elected CBCP head in July 2017, succeeding Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan.
The CBCP also reelected Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan as Vice President, Archbishop John Du as Treasurer and Fr. Marvin Mejia as Secretary General.
About 83 bishops, 73 of them are active and five are retired, attended the ongoing assembly at the Pope Pius xII Catholic Center in Manila.
The CBCP is currently composed of 134 members— 83 of them are active, 3 are administrators, and 45 are retired from 86 ecclesiastical jurisdictions.
Pope Francis has assured his support to the CBCP members as they began their plenary assembly to discuss matters that affect the Church and the country.
He also wished their plenary assembly “bear fruit for the benefit of all the faithful in an environment of living communion”.
They will stay in office from Dec. 1, 2019 to November 30, 2021. CBCP officials have a two-year tenure in office, or a total of four to include the second term.
Other elected and re-elected heads of the CBCP Commissions, Committees and Offices were the following:
• Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities – Bishop Jose A. Cabantan
• Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate – Bishop Sofronio A. Bancud, SSS
• Episcopal Office on Bioethics – Bishop Ricardo L. Baccay
• Episcopal Commission on Canon Law – Bishop Jacinto A. Jose
• Episcopal Com. on Catechesis and Catholic Education – Bishop Roberto C. Mallari
• Episcopal Commission on Clergy – Bishop Buenaventura M. Famadico
• Episcopal Commission on Cultural Heritage of the Church – Bishop Julito B. Cortes
• Episcopal Commission on Culture – Bishop Jose S. Bantolo
• Episcopal Commission on Doctrine of the Faith – Bishop Jose R. Rojas
• Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs – Bishop Angelito R. Lampon, OMI
• Episcopal Commission on Family and Life – Bishop Gilbert A. Garcera
• Episcopal Commission on Health Care – Bishop Rex C. Ramirez
• Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples – Bishop Valentin C. Dimoc
• Permanent Committee on International Eucharistic Congresses — Archbishop Jose S. Palma
• Episcopal Commission on Inter-religious Dialogue – Bishop Edwin A. dela Peña, MSP
• Episcopal Commission on the Laity – Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo
• Episcopal Commission on Liturgy – Bishop Victor B. Bendico
• Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People – Bishop Narciso V. Abellana, MSC
• Episcopal Commission on Mission – Bishop Socrates C. Mesiona, MSP
• Episcopal Commission on Mutual Relations – Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ
• Episcopal Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filippino – Bishop Ruperto C. Santos
• Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care – Bishop Joel Z. Baylon
• Permanent Committee on Public Affairs – Bishop Reynaldo G. Evangelista
• Episcopal Com. on Social Action, Justice and Peace – Bishop Jose Colin M. Bagaforo
• Episcopal Commission on Social Communications – Bishop Marcelino Antonio M. Maralit, Jr.
• Episcopal Commission on Vocations – Bishop David William V. Antonio
• Episcopal Office on Women – Bishop Crispin B. Varquez
• Episcopal Office on Youth – Bishop Rex Andrew C. Alarcon
• National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal – Bishop Antonio R. Tobias
