New bishop of Novaliches to be installed today

Bishop Antonio Tobias will formally assume the leadership of the Novaliches Diocese today, some six months after he was given the Metro Manila post while purportedly awaiting for the return of controversial Bishop Teodoro Bacani.

Tobias, 62, who earlier served as Apostolic Administrator of Novaliches, will assume the post after the Vatican "accepted" Bacani’s resignation last October over the sexual harassment case filed against him by his personal secretary.

Tobias will be installed as the second Bishop of the newly-founded Novaliches Diocese in a ceremony to be held today at 4 p.m. at the Cathedral of Good Shepherd in Fairview, Quezon City. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales will officiate the rites and deliver the homily.

Also expected to attend are former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and Vatican Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Antonio Franco.

Novaliches was established in February 2003, one the five dioceses carved out of the Archdiocese of Manila.

Tobias, who once served as an assistant priest in Malibay, Pasay City, completed his theology studies at the San Carlos Seminary and his Licentiate in Canon Law at the University of Santo Tomas, magna cum laude.

Tobias also served as Bishop of Pagadian in Zamboanga City before transferring to San Fernando, La Union in 1993.