Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Jaro, Philippines

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jaro, Philippines, presented by Archbishop Jose Romeo O. Lazo.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Midyphil Bermejo Billones, until now titular bishop of Tagarata and auxiliary of Cebu, as archbishop of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jaro, Philippines.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop-elect Midyphil B. Billones was born on 4 July 1969 in Panay, Capiz, Philippines. He studied philosophy at Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Iloilo City, and was awarded a master’s degree in theology from the Loyola School of Theology in Quezon City. He then obtained a licentiate and a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 2 October 1965.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar of the Cathedral of Jaro, Iloilo City (1995-1997) and secretary to the archbishop (1997-2000), member of the Presbyteral Council (2000-2001), secretary and vice chancellor, spiritual director, member of the Archdiocesan Commission for Prison Pastoral Care (2000-2004), director of the Diocesan Youth Commission, notary of the Third Diocesan Synod (2003-2004), vice rector and director of human formation at Saint Joseph Regional Seminary, Iloilo City, director of the Diocesan Commission for the Laity (2011-2013), member of the Federation of Episcopal Conferences Office for Theological Questions (2014), member of the Presbyteral Council, the Personnel Board and the Archdiocesan Council of Jaro (2016), consultant, national secretary of the BEC, member of the Editorial Committee of Ratio Nationalis for Seminaries (2017), moderator of the National Shrine of Saint Joseph, Mandaue City, Cebu, member of the Council of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Cebu (2019), and member of the Secretariat of the Pastoral Planning Council (2022).

On 16 July 2019 he was appointed titular bishop of Tagarata and auxiliary of Cebu, and received episcopal ordination the following 27 August.

Within the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), he is a member of the Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Commission for Seminaries.