Bishop Crispin Varquez appointed to lead Tagbilaran Diocese

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Crispin Varquez to lead the Diocese of Tagbilaran in Bohol, Philippines. Varquez, 65, succeeds Archbishop Alberto Uy, who transitioned to the Archdiocese of Cebu in September 2025.

Born in Sevilla, Bohol, Varquez’s appointment is being described by the diocese as a “homecoming,” as he returns to the region where he was ordained a priest in 1989. He previously served as the Bishop of Borongan in Eastern Samar since 2007.

His career includes significant roles in seminary formation at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran and St. Augustine Major Seminary in Tagaytay. He also served as vicar general of the Tagbilaran diocese prior to his appointment to Borongan. Varquez will become the eighth bishop of the diocese, which was established in 1941.