Pope appoints new bishop of Negros Occidental

ILOILO CITY—Pope Francis on Saturday appointed Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza as the new bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental.

Alminaza, 54, will take over the post left vacant by Archbishop Jose Advincula who was installed as archbishop of Capiz in January last year, according to a statement of the Jaro archdiocese.

Formed in 1987, the San Carlos diocese has 25 parishes and covers the towns of La Libertad and Vallehermoso and the cities of Guihulngan and Canlaon in Negros Oriental. It also includes the towns of Manapla, Toboso, Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto and the cities of San Carlos, Escalante, Cadiz and Sagay in Negros Occidental.

“I will accept whatever responsibilities my superiors will assign me. I trust in God and where he will send me,” Alminaza told the Inquirer.

The bishop-elect is the head convener of the Visayas Clergy Discernment Group and has been vocal in various social issues, including the pork barrel system.