CBCP to elect new leaders in 119th plenary assembly

FILE: Catholic bishops arrive at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral for the opening Mass of the 116th CBCP Plenary Assembly on January 27, 2018. (Photo: CBCP News/Website)

MANILA — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will elect a new set of officers during its 119th Plenary Assembly in Manila this weekend.

Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP secretary-general, said Catholic prelates will be choosing their new president and vice-president, who will be serving for two years starting on December 1, 2019.

“Part of the agenda is the election of new officers since the term of the present leaders will only be until November 30 and on December 1, there will be new set of officers,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

Mejia said the election will be held on Saturday.

Currently, the CBCP is headed by Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles and Caloocan Bishop Pablo David as president and vice president, respectively.

The president and the vice-president are elected for two-year terms and can serve for a minimum of two terms.

By tradition, they are reelected for their second and last term, based on an article posted on the CBCP news website.

It added the vice president usually succeeds the president after his term expires.

Mejia said there is a likely chance that the two will be re-elected. “There is a possibility based on the rules on term…

they are still eligible,” he said.

Aside from the two top officials, other members of the CBCP Permanent Council, including the secretary general, assistant secretary general and treasurer, will also be elected.

The Council acts for and in behalf of the Bishops’ group when the plenary assembly is not in session.

The assembly will be held from July 6 to 8 and will be held at Pope Pius XII Center in Manila.

Close to 90 active Catholic Bishops are expected to the bi-annual meeting which is also being held every January.

The gathering is considered as the highest decision-making body of the CBCP.