ILOILO — Pope Leo XIV has tapped Jaro Archbishop Midyphil Billones to temporarily lead the Diocese of Kabankalan in Negros Occidental, placing the Western Visayas prelate in charge of the diocese while the Vatican searches for its next bishop.
Billones, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro, was appointed apostolic administrator of Kabankalan following the transfer of Bishop Louie Galbines to the Diocese of Bacolod.
The appointment was announced on Aug. 14 through Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News, following a letter from the Dicastery for Bishops dated Aug. 11, 2026.
Kabankalan is one of the suffragan dioceses under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jaro, making Billones responsible for overseeing both its spiritual and administrative affairs during the leadership transition.
“Kabankalan is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Jaro, part of the ecclesiastical province covering Western Visayas. Billones will oversee Kabankalan in a caretaker capacity until a new bishop is appointed and installed,” CBCP stated.
Billones will serve as caretaker of the diocese until Pope Leo XIV appoints and installs a permanent successor to Galbines.
Galbines had served as bishop of Kabankalan for nearly eight years before Pope Leo XIV transferred him to Bacolod, where he succeeded retired Bishop Patricio Buzon.
Buzon had led the Diocese of Bacolod for a decade before his retirement.
Billones, meanwhile, brings years of church leadership and pastoral experience to his interim assignment.
He previously served as auxiliary bishop of Cebu before being appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro in April 2025.
As apostolic administrator, Billones is expected to ensure continuity in the pastoral and administrative affairs of the Kabankalan diocese while its clergy and faithful await the appointment of their new bishop.
The Archdiocese of Jaro expressed its support for Billones as he takes on the additional responsibility.
“We accompany Archbishop Billones with our prayers and support as he tends to the wider flock entrusted to his care. Likewise, we lift up the Local Church of Kabankalan in prayer, that the Lord may soon grant them a new shepherd who will minister and journey with them after the Heart of Jesus,” the Archdiocese of Jaro, Commission on Social Communications wrote on Facebook.
“Our prayerful congratulations to Archbishop Dodong,” it added.
