Bishop Pablo Virgilio David was reelected as the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Saturday. The 64-year-old Caloocan prelate was given a fresh two-year mandate to head the permanent organizational assembly of the Catholic bishops in the country during its 126th plenary assembly at the Marzon Hotel in Kalibo, Aklan. Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, 60, was also reelected as vice president. About 80 bishops are currently gathered for the three-day assembly from July 8 to 10. The two were first elected to their respective posts in July 2021 during an online plenary assembly, the first in CBCP’s history. The online gathering was held at the height of the pandemic. The Conference is currently composed of 87 active bishops, three diocesan administrators, and 43 honorary members, who are retired bishops. Aside from the election of new officials, the gathering will also discuss pastoral statements and the revision of liturgical rites. The approval of items discussed requires either a simple majority or a vote of two-thirds of the member bishops to be approved as provided by their Statutes. Only active bishops are eligible to vote on particular items. Retired bishops are welcome to attend the assemblies and participate in discussions, but are not entitled to vote. The plenary assembly is held every January and July. The deliberations and decisions of the Conference are undertaken by its Permanent Council.
Source: Philippines News Agency