Pope Francis announced the appointment of a UST Sacred Theology and Central Seminary alumnus as the new Diocese of Pagadian bishop on Wednesday, April 2.

Father Ronald Anthony Timoner was ordained priest on May 1, 1997, and was the diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Daet.

Timoner also served as the director of the socio-pastoral action center foundation of Sart and parish priest of the Parroquia de San Juan Bautista.

The new bishop-elect also studied philosophy at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary in Naga City in Bicol.

As the bishop of Pagadian, he will serve 21 municipalities in the northern and eastern parts of Zamboanga del Sur.

Timoner is the sixth bishop of Pagadian and will fill in the position of the late Bishop Ronald Lunas, who died on Jan. 2 in 2024.