MANILA, Philippines – Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros died on Friday morning, May 11, at the age of 71.

Oliveros died at around 9:12 am on Friday, said Father Nick Lalog, social communications chairman of the Diocese of Malolos.  

Oliveros was reportedly found unconscious in his room at around 9 am on Friday, Lalog said. He was then rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Lalog said Oliveros had undergone treatment for prostate cancer for the past 4 years. 

His last major public appearance was on April 30, when he witnessed the ordination of his former right-hand man, Monsignor Bartolome Santos Jr, as a bishop.

Santos, former vicar general of the Diocese of Malolos, is set to be installed as bishop of Iba, Zambales.

“It’s always a joy of a bishop to see one of his priests becoming a bishop,” Lalog told Rappler.

Born in Quezon on September 1, 1946, Oliveros studied at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Minor Seminary in Sariaya, Quezon, and the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila.

He also holds a master’s degree in psychology from the Ateneo de Manila University, and a doctorate in sacred theology from the Universita di San Tommaso in Urbe in Rome.

Oliveros was ordained a priest by no less than Pope Paul VI at Rizal Park, Manila, on November 28, 1970.

Ordained a bishop on March 20, 2000, he was also the former bishop of Boac in Marinduque. – Rappler.com