The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday announced it will elect a new president this week — a scheduled event coinciding with investigations on vehicles that some bishops allegedly received from government.
In a statement, the CBCP said bishops from the Philippines’ 86 dioceses will also elect a new vice president as well as members of the CBCP permanent council representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The election will take place during the CBCP’s 103rd plenary assembly in Manila from June 8 to 10, the group also said.
The CBCP said its incumbent president and vice president, Tandag (Surigao del Sur) Bishop Nereo Odchimar and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, respectively, are both serving their first term.
“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 terms," the CBCP explained.
The bishops are also expected to issue a pastoral statement on Monday about “ecclesiastical, moral, and socio-political issues affecting the country," according to the CBCP.
The latest issue that hit Catholic bishops involves reports that some of them received sports utility vehicles and cash from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under the Arroyo administration.
The bishops involved in the controversy, along with other personalities, are facing investigation by the Senate blue ribbon committee.
Last week, Odchimar said the CBCP will also discuss the PCSO exposé during their plenary assembly. — PE/VS
