MANILA - Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar was elected Saturday morning as the new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Odchimar, erstwhile vice-president of the CBCP, was the runaway favorite to bag the influential post, according to a source who participated in the voting. Odchimar was the top choice of the bishops from the initial to the final voting.

Prior to his election, Odchimar was a virtual unknown, a lightweight in the Church hierarchy. He is believed to have cordial ties with President Arroyo.

Also to be elected on Saturday afternoon are the members of the permanent council, the highest governing body of the CBCP.  The new set of officers will assume the posts in December.

In electing Odchimar as the new president, the bishops followed tradition this time. The vice-president normally succeeds the president, presently occupied by Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

Odchimar is the first bishop in years to assume the post. The CBCP presidency is normally occupied by an archbishop.

Anti-Arroyo bishops out

Former CBCP Vice-President Cagayan de Oro Bishop Antonio Ledesma was supposed to succeed Lagdameo, but in what should have been a nominal election in 2005, he was ousted and replaced by Odchimar. Ledesma’s supporters believe his ouster was meant to temper the critical stance of the CBCP in socio-political issues and controversies.

Lagdameo and Ledesma are both critical of the Arroyo administration.

By tradition, Odchimar will assume the presidency for four years. The CBCP conducts elections every two years.

More than being an administrative position, the CBCP presidency has assumed a highly crucial role in defining Church and State relations. The CBCP president is now considered the surrogate head of the Church following the death of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.

As CBCP president, Odchimar can set the agenda and the role that the collegial body of bishops will play out, especially in politics. He assumes the position at a time when the county is preparing for a change of political leadership.