Bishop Charlie, the New Archbishop of Cotabato

by Joel V. Ocampo

On September 8, 2020, the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV appointed His Excellency, Most Rev. Charlie Malapitan Inzon, O.M.I., until now Vicar Apostolic of Jolo, as Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cotabato, in the Province of Maguindanao, Philippines, following the resignation of Archbishop Angelito R. Lampon, O.M.I., who served as the Archbishop of Cotabato since January 2019.

Early Life, Education, and Vocation

Bishop Charlie was born on November 24, 1965, in the Municipality of Castilla, Province of Sorsogon, Philippines. He studied Philosophy at Notre Dame University, a Catholic educational institution run by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Cotabato City. Then, he pursued his Theology studies at the Loyola School of Theology (LST), followed by a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry and a doctorate in Psychology at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

In 1982, he became a member of Oblates of Mary Immaculate where he made his First Vows in May 1986. On September 8, 1990, he gave his perpetual vows with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Three years after, on April 24, 1993, he received his Ordination to the Sacred Order of Presbyters, a priest of Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI).

As a priest, the then Fr. Charlie served in some of the following ministries:

• Chaplain, Notre Dame of Jolo College, Jolo, Sulu, Philippines (1993-1995),

• Mission-in-Charge, Mission Station in Tawi-Tawi (1995-1998),

• Parish Vicar, Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño, Midsayap, Cotabato (1998-2000),

• Director, OMI College Seminary, Quezon City (2000-2006),

• Director, Peace and Research Center (2007-2009),

• Dean of the Graduate School (2009-2010),

• Dean, Notre Dame of Jolo College, Jolo (2010-2018),

• Provincial Superior (2018-2020), and

• President, OMI Asia-Oceania Regional Conference (2020).

On April 4, 2020, he was appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo, Province of Sulu, Philippines. In the days leading up to the ordination, he said, “I rejoice in the mercy of God and trust in his assurance of strength and consolation as I take up this ministry of service in the Church in the Vicariate of Jolo.”

Then on May 21, 2020, he was ordained Bishop at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, with Archbishop Angelito Rendon Lampon, O.M.I., (then Archbishop of Cotabato), as the Principal Consecrator, and Orlando Beltran Cardinal Quevedo, O.M.I. (Archbishop-Emeritus of Cotabato), and Bishop José Colin M. Bagaforo (Bishop of Kidapawan) as Principal Co-Consecrators.

He was ordained at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic where the government only allows a maximum of 10 people to attend religious services in areas under general community quarantine such as Cotabato. During his ordination, Bishop Charlie said, “The gathering may be rare and unprecedented, but its simplicity still made the Lord at the center of the celebration. Nothing can stop us from celebrating God’s gift and grace.”

On July 16, 2020, Bishop Charlie assumed his post as Apostolic Vicar of Jolo on the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Patroness of the Vicariate.

As a new bishop, he served in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in the following ministries:

• Member, Episcopal Commission on Inter-religious Dialogue (2023-2025);

• Member, Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace (2023-2025);

• Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education.

Apostolic Vicar of Jolo 

As the newly installed Apostolic Vicar of Jolo, Bishop Charlie appealed for an end to the violence, following twin bombings believed to be perpetrated by suicide bombers. He said, “COVID-19 is already a terrible burden we carry daily. Spare us from yet another tragedy. God help us. Answer our prayers.” He also said in another interview, “Sa pangyayari na naman dito ngayon ay kinakailangan ng dasal para maiwasan yung mga ganitong pangyayari, at saka dapat ipagdasal din yung mga naging biktima, ‘yun ang dapat nating gawin at sa mga tao din maging kalmado pa rin.”

As Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education, Bishop Inzon encouraged the Filipinos during the International Day of Education on January 24, 2025, to partake in promoting quality education. He said, “Tumulong sa pagsusulong ng kalidad na edukasyon na maaaring makamit ng bawat batang mag-aaral sa alinmang panig ng Pilipinas.”

He further said, “Ang katolikong mga paaralan ay maigting na tumutulong sa ating bansa sa education, karamihan sa atin yun nga yung hinihimok natin na sana itong education na ito ay makatulong lalung-lalu na doon sa pag-connect ng education sa classroom at pagpapatibay at pagtugon sa mga kinakailangan sa ating mga community. Kailangan kasi ma-connect natin yung ating mga pinapag-aralan sa classroom na mahubog ang isang tao, maging kasangkapan siya, upang mapaganda ang family, upang mapaganda ang community, mapaganda ang ating bansa at nasa bahaging ito, napakalaki pa ng ating dapat gawin. Off course kasama na doon yung paghubog ng ating mga values, values na maka-Diyos, values ng pagmamahal sa ating pamilya, sa ating komunidad at sa ating bansa.”