The southern Philippine diocese of Ipil on Tuesday announced the election of a diocesan administrator, a week after it became sede vacante.

The selection of Monsignor Elizar Cielo, 47, was made by the College of Consultors of Ipil, the group of priests who have a canonical role in the governance of the diocese.

Cielo’s new role came after Archbishop Julius Tonel, who served as Ipil’s bishop for 16 years, was installed as the new shepherd of the Zamboanga archdiocese on Aug. 22.

As diocesan administrator, Cielo will lead the diocese until a new bishop is installed for the diocese.

The priest, a canon lawyer, has been the diocese’s vicar general and current parish priest of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay’s Buug town.