MANILA, July 5 -- Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera will be the new president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) by December.

According to the CBCP news website, the 66-year-old prelate was elected during the first day of the bishops' 130th plenary assembly in Anda, Bohol on Saturday.

He will succeed the Diocese of Kalookan's Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David on Dec. 1.

Garcera has been head of the Archdiocese of Lipa in Batangas province since 2017. He is also currently the CBCP Permanent Council's regional representative for Southeast Luzon.

CBCP officials serve two-year terms and may be reelected once, for a maximum of four years.

Garcera was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Caceres in Naga City, Camar...