Davao archbishop to return as CBCP head

In a circular released Wednesday, CBCP vice president Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said Valles has recovered well and ready to work again. (File Photo By User:Patrickroque01 – Taken using my own camera with model DSC-HX5V, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles will return as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on the last week of November.

In a circular released Wednesday, CBCP vice president Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said Valles has recovered well and ready to work again.

“I am happy to announce to you that the Archbishop of Davao and President of the CBCP, His Excellency Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles – who was temporarily incapacitated by a mild stroke in May 2020 – has recovered very well,” he said. “He has expressed his gratitude for all the prayers and moral support that his brother bishops have extended to him during the past few months of his recuperation.”

David said upon the approval of his doctors, Valles has expressed readiness to report back to work.

“Please be informed, therefore that after getting a clean bill of health from his doctors, Archbishop Valles has signified his readiness to resume office as our CBCP President,” he said.

Valles is set to preside the CBCP Permanent Council meeting online before the end of the month.

“He will already preside at our next CBCP Permanent Council meeting by Zoom, which is scheduled on November 25, 2020. As Vice-President.

I assured him that I would stay by his side and continue to assist him in whatever way I can,” the Catholic prelate added.

He reminded that “All communications with the Office of the CBCP President may now be redirected to Archbishop Romulo Valles.”

David was appointed by Valles as acting president of the CBCP on July 17 after he suffered a mild stroke in May.

“During those months of his absence, Archbishop Valles had appointed the undersigned. Bishop of Kalookan and current CBCP Vice-President, to temporarily assume the role of Acting President for the CBCP, as provided for by our statutes. The appointment ends as soon as Archbishop Valles is ready to resume his office as President,” David added.