Pope Benedict XVI has appointed three new Filipino bishops, one of whom would be the youngest bishop in the country.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ media office said incumbent Laoag Bishop Sergio Utleg was appointed the new archbishop of Tuguegarao, while Msgr. Jose Bantolo, vicar-general of the Diocese of San Jose in Antique, was named new bishop of Masbate.
Msgr. David William Antonio, the current vicar-general of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia based in Vigan City, was elevated auxiliary bishop. He will be assisting Nueva Segovia Archbishop Ernesto Salgado.
At 47, Antonio will be the youngest living Filipino Roman Catholic bishop; he is a year younger than the current record-holder, Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara.
Antonio was born in Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur on Dec. 1, 1963 and ordained priest on Dec. 1, 1988. Bantolo was born in Guisijan, Antique on Nov. 12, 1960 and ordained priest on April 21, 1986.
Utleg succeeds Tuguegarao Archbisop Diosdado Talamaya, 78, who submitted his resignation in 2008 upon reaching the age limit of 75. Bishops are required to retire after reaching the age of 75 although the Pope sometimes extends their tenure.