Villegas is new bishop of Balanga

BALANGA CITY — Former President Corazon Aquino and Senate President Franklin Drilon led some 10,000 Catholic faithful who witnessed yesterday’s installation of Msgr. Socrates Villegas as the new bishop of the Diocese of Balanga.

Villegas, former rector of Our Lady of EDSA Shrine, succeeded Bishop Honesto Ongtioco who was transferred to the Diocese of Cubao (Que-zon City) last May. The first Balanga bishop was the late Bishop Celso Guevarra.

Since his ordination 18 years ago, Villegas served as secretary of Jaime Cardinal Sin who, though pale and sickly, flew here by helicopter yesterday to witness the event at the San Jose Cathedral.

Also in attendance were Ricardo Cardinal Vidal of Cebu and Archbishop Antonio Franco, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines. — Raffy Viray