MANILA — New officials of the Catholic Bishops’of the Philippines (CBCP) headed by newly elected President, Archbishop Romulo Valles will officially assume office on December 1.
According the Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP secretary general, the new officials, which will be serving a two-year term until December 2019.
“No formal turnover. By December 1, the new president will begin his term of office,”he added.
The 66-year-old Davao prelate was elected last July during the bi-annual meeting of the conference. He will succeed outgoing President Archbishop Socrates Villegas.
Valles will be the 20th head of the 72-year-old collegial body of bishops.
Kalookan Bishop Pablo David was also elected as vice president.
CBCP officials have a maximum of four years to be in office or two terms.
If tradition is to be followed, incumbent officials are reelected for their second and last term.
Likewise, the bishops elected members of the CBCP Permanent Council.
The regional representatives for Luzon are Archbishop Marlo Peralta of Nueva Segovia, Bishops Ruperto Santos of Balanga, Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus, Victor Ocampo of Gumaca and Jose Rojas of Libanan.
For Visayas, the representatives are Archbishop Jose Advincula of Capiz and Isabelo Abarquez of Calbayog.
Representatives for Mindanao include Archbishops Romulo dela Cruz of Zamboanga and Martin Jumoad of Ozamiz.
Also reelected were Palo Archbishop John Du as CBCP treasurer and Mejia as secretary general. (PNA)