Last 28 June 2007 outgoing Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Fernando Filoni informed Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Monsignor Julius S. Tonel as the new bishop-prelate of Ipil in Zamboanga-Sibugay province.

Bishop-elect Tonel is concurrently the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Davao and parish priest of San Pablo Parish in Matina, Davao City. He is the second Davao-born diocesan priest to become bishop. The first was Bishop Guillermo Afable, no bishop of the Diocese of Digos.

The youngest of the six children of Primitivo E. Tonel (now deceased) and Filipina Sullan, the new bishop was born on 31 August 1956 in Davao City. He did his elementary schooling at the Holy Cross of Davao College, his high school and college at the St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary in Davao, and his theology at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila. He holds a Licentiate in Sacred Liturgy from Ateneo di Sant'Anselmo in Rome. Before studying abroad he served as parochial vicar in St. Jude and San Pedro Cathedral parishes as well as Rector and professor at the St. Francis Xavier College Seminary.

Upon his return from Italy, Bishop-elect Tonel has served as spiritual director, Vice-Rector and later Rector of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary (REMASE) in Davao City. After his seminary assignments, he has served as parish priest of Ascension of the Lord Parish in GSIS Heights, Matina Davao City.

The dates of his episcopal ordination and installation as bishop of Ipil will be announced later. He will succeed Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, former bishop of Ipil and now Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro.