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Four dioceses in the country have no bishops
MANILA, Oct. 3 (PNA) -- There are four dioceses in the country that have no bishops.

According to the Catholic hierarchy, no prelates have been appointed yet to the following dioceses: Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Iba, Zambales; Kabankalan, Negros Occidental; and Mati, Davao.

The Iba Diocese has no administrator after Bishop Florentino Galang Lavarias was appointed as Archbishop of San Fernando since July 25, 2014, while the Diocese of Mati is without a leader after Bishop Patricio Hacbang Alo resigned on Oct. 19, 2014.

Since May, the Kabankalan and Bayombong dioceses have remained vacant after Bishop Patricio Abella Buzon was appointed as the Bishop of Bacolod on May 24 and Bishop Ramon Barrera Villena resigned on May 28.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has appointed Msgr. Victor B. Bendico from the clergy of the Archdiocese of Capiz as the new bishop of the Diocese of Baguio.

The new head of the Baguio diocese succeeded Msgr. Carlito J. Cenzon, C.I.C.M., after the Vatican accepted his resignation.

Bendico was born in Roxas City on Jan. 22, 1960. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila.

From 1996 to 2000, he studied in Rome at the Pontifical Institute of St. Anselm, receiving his Doctorate in Sacred Liturgy. He was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Capiz on April 14, 1984.

As an ordained priest, he was: Spiritual Director of St. Pius X Seminary, Roxas City (1984-1988); Vicar at St. Theresa Parish of Roxas City (1992-1995); Rector at St. Maria Mater et Regina Seminarium Maius (Saint Mary, Mother and Queen, Major Seminary) Roxas City; and pastor of St. Isidore Parish, Pontevedra, Capiz (2000-2006); Pastor of St. Laurence Parish, Panit-an, Pontevedra, Capiz (2006-2011).

Currently, he is pastor of the Parish of Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Roxas City and a member of the Commission for Clergy and the one for liturgy; the Council and the Senate of the clergy and the Council of the Colegio de la Purisima Concepción (College of the Immaculate Conception) in the said city. (PNA)

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