Pope Francis on January 14, 2020, announced Bishop Fidelis Layog as the Apostolic Administrator of the Alaminos diocese.
The appointment comes as former Alaminos Bishop Ricardo Baccay was installed as the new archbishop of Tuguegarao at St. Peter’s Metropolitan Cathedral.
Bishop Layog, 51, has been the auxiliary bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan since May 2019.
He will temporarily oversee the affairs of the diocese until a new bishop is appointed by the pope.
The Vatican usually appoints an apostolic administrator to temporarily head a diocese when it becomes vacant, especially if special circumstances surround the ecclesial territory.
The pope appointed Baccay to Tuguegarao last Oct. 19, replacing retired Archbishop Sergio Utleg.
During the installation Mass, Utleg formally turned over his post by handing over the crosier to Baccay while seated in the “cathedra”, or bishop’s chair.
Bishop Layog was also present during the ceremony.
