SORSOGON Bishop Emeritus Arturo Bastes passed away yesterday morning in Cainta, Rizal at the age of 80, five years after he retired.
An announcement by the Diocese of Sorsogon said Bastes died around 6:30 a.m. in his brother’s residence in Cainta.
“He was 80 years of age, 54 years priest, 27 years bishop, 16 years Bishop of Sorsogon,” noted the Sorsogon diocese.
It called on the faithful to join the entire Diocese of Sorsogon in praying for the soul of Bastes.
“We enjoin all to be united with us, the Sorsogon clergy, Bishop Alan (Dialogo), the clergy, the religious, the missionaries, and the lay faithful of Sorsogon, to offer prayers and sacrifices for the eternal repose of Bishop Nonoy,” said the Sorsogon diocese.
Born in April 1944 in Loboc, Bohol, Bastes was ordained a priest in November 1970.
He was appointed bishop of Romblon back in July 1997.
In April 2003, Bastes was appointed the bishop of Sorsogon.
He retired in October 2019 at the age of 75 and was succeeded by Dialogo.
Bastes was known for being an anti-mining advocate after leading the “Bastes Commission,” which recommended a mining moratorium on Rapu-Rapu Island, and that existing mining permits in the area be suspended in order to comprehensively study and address the issue of ecological conservation.
