Kalibo bishop retires; Capiz archbishop named apostolic administrator

With the retirement of Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc, Archbishop Victor Bendico of Capiz has been appointed as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Kalibo, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

CBCP News reported that Bishop Tala-oc stepped down after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation, which was formally announced by the Vatican on Tuesday, June 17 (Manila time).

The Vatican also declared the Diocese of Kalibo sede vacante—or vacant—pending the appointment of a new bishop. Under Canon 401 §1 of the Code of Canon Law, bishops are required to submit their resignation upon reaching the age of 75.

“A diocesan bishop who has completed the seventy-fifth year of age is requested to present his resignation from office to the Supreme Pontiff, who will make provision after he has examined all the circumstances,” the Canon states.

Tala-oc’s retirement ends a 14-year tenure as bishop of Kalibo, following his appointment in 2010 by the late Pope Benedict XVI. Before this, he served as bishop of Romblon, a post he assumed in 2003 under Saint Pope John Paul II.

He was ordained bishop on July 30, 2003, with the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin as principal consecrator, assisted by Archbishop Onesimo Cadiz Gordoncillo of Capiz and Bishop Gabriel Reyes of Antipolo.

Tala-oc began his priestly ministry in 1979 in the Diocese of Kalibo, where he later returned to serve as its bishop until his retirement.