Vatican names Nueva Vizcaya bishop

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — Catholic Church leaders and parishioners here welcomed the appointment of a new head of the diocese of Bayombong, which covers the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

Fr. Romulo Castañeda Felix, chancellor of the diocese of Bayombong, said the Vatican announced the appointment of Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao, 58, a native of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, on May 24.

Mangalinao, who was appointed auxiliary bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan in August 2016, replaced Bishop Sofronio Buncad, who was assigned at the Cabanatuan diocese in Nueva Ecija.

Buncad replaced the 79-year-old Bishop Ramon Villena, who retired from the service.

A former head of the Cagayan Valley regional development council, Villena is the most influential and outspoken Catholic cleric in the region.

Mangalinao is the third bishop of Bayombong.

Catholics are preparing for the formal assumption of the bishop on July 11 at the Saint Dominic Church here.