CBCP appoints Bishop Alarcon as PPCRV national director

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has appointed Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres as the national spiritual director of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), barely a month after his installation as the fifth archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Caceres.

CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David formally appointed Alarcon to the post on May 27, following the Permanent Council’s decision during its meeting on May 22.

PPCRV is a national parish-based, political but non-partisan lay movement that works for clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful elections. PPCRV’s current national chairperson is Evelyn Singson.

In his appointment letter to Alarcon, Bishop David said, “We express our deepest gratitude to you for accepting this assignment. May the Lord continue to bless and guide your ministry.”

He added that the functions of the office “are in accordance with the statutes of the PPCRV and in coordination with the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity.”

The movement was established in 1991, stemming from the realization that the laity must be part of nation-building and the renewal of Christian life.

Bicolanos are jubilant over Alarcon’s appointment and are praying for Ina (Our Lady of Peñafrancia) to intercede and provide him with the courage and strength needed to ensure Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful, and Peaceful (CHAMP) midterm elections in May 2025.

Alarcon, the fifth archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Caceres, was installed by Archbishop Charles John Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, on May 2 at the Archbishop's Palace.

Born in Daet, Camarines Norte, on August 6, 1970, on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Alarcon was baptized in Daet by the late Fr. Alex Chavez and confirmed with Bishop Manolo de los Santos as his godfather.

He was appointed as the new prelate of Caceres on February 22, 2024, following the retirement of Rev. Rolando Tirona.