July 11, 2009
by: striker_jem
Butuan – The new president of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar who overwhelming won the elections held during the 99th Plenary Assembly of the Bishops’ Conference at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila Saturday.
The 68 year old Bishop, the current vice president of the CBCP, garnered 86 votes out of the 88 dioceses in the country voted in the CBCP Plenary replacing outgoing CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of the Jaro, Iloilo Diocese.
He was born on October 16, 1940 in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, completed his Philosophy studies at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte, and Theology at the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1964.
He was member of the clergy of the Diocese of Surigao from 1965 to 1977, and served in the parishes of San Agustin, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; San Nicolas de Tolentino in Mainit and Sts. Peter and Paul in Tubud, Surigao del Norte; and St. Vincent de Paul in Mangagoy, Bislig, Surigao del Sur.
He pursued further studies at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary, where he obtained his Bachelors degree in Canon Law, magna cum laude (1982) and Doctorate in Canon Law, magna cum laude (1983). He also completed masteral studies in Business Administration at the De la Salle University in Manila.
He was ordained bishop on November 27, 2001 and appointed Bishop of Tandag on that same year.
Also elected during the Plenary is Palo Archbishop Jose Palma, 59, as the new vice-president while Msgr. Figura was reelected secretary general and Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco was reelected treasurer.
Other council members serving as regional representatives were also elected. For Luzon, elected were Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena, San Fernando (Pampanga) Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David, Infanta Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona, Taytay Bishop Edgardo Juanich and Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes.
Elected for the Visayas were Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso and Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza. Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles and Pagadian Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar were elected for Mindanao.
Odchimar and other members of the permanent council will start serving their terms in December 2009.
The president and the vice-president are elected for two-year terms and can serve for a minimum of two terms. The CBCP is considered an influential body in Philippine politics.
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