'Bring Ces, crew home
safely' Abus holding news team?
BY RAYMOND AFRICA and JP
LOPEZ
PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday ordered the PNP to
bring back to safety TV news anchor and host Ces Drilon and her
crew who were reported missing by their network, ABS-CBN.
"We are trying to re-establish contact and
determine their exact location," ABS-CBN said in a statement
identifying the crewmembers as Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo
Valderama. Drilon is the wife of Rock Drilon, a painter.
Police said Drilon's group has been missing
since Sunday, when she and the crew left a hostel in Jolo where
they were to cover an event. Reports said Abu Sayyaf leader
Albader Parad is holding Drilon's group in barangay Kulasi in
Maimbung, Sulu.
'Smooth and orderly' school
opening despite usual kinks
BY ASHZEL HACHERO
THE Department of Education yesterday said
the opening of classes was generally "smooth and orderly"
despite the usual complaints that ranged from collection of fees
to lack of schools or classrooms.
"It seems that our preparation including the
week-long Oplan Balik Eskwela and coordination with other
government agencies, local government units and the community
paid off," Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said after visiting
the Batasan National High School in Quezon City and the Highway
Hills Integrated School in Mandaluyong City.
At the Batasan National High School, Lapus
was greeted at the entrance by some teachers carrying placards
and asking for higher wages. He did not pay any attention to
them.
THE Cabinet study group on the power rate
reduction has proposed six measures that could reduce the cost
of electricity by about 64 centavos per kilowatt hour.
Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, head of
the study group, said a number of the measures are still subject
to negotiations but government is hoping to have them approved
and implemented within the year.
