. NEWS ROUNDUP .

EXECUTIVE Secretary Eduardo Ermita said 20 more Filipino seafarers were released by Somali pirates.

Ermita, quoting a report submitted to Malacañang by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Esteban Conejos, said the released seafarers were from the Japanese bulk carrier MV Stella Maris hijacked by Somali pirates last July 20 at the Horn of Africa.

He said the seafarers are safe, unharmed and now in the custody of the Philippine Embassy officials based in Africa.

Ermita said this development brings to 35 the total number of abducted Filipinos who have been released by the Somali pirates. He said efforts to secure the release of the 47 other Filipino crewmen from four vessels who are still held captive by the Somali pirates are still ongoing. – Jocelyn D. Montemayor

SPO4 Antonio Espadero might get his promotion after all, despite the retirement of former PNP chief Avelino Razon who promised it to him 10 months ago.

Director Edgardo Acuña, directorate for personnel and records management chief, said Espadero’s promotion papers have been forwarded to the National Police Commission which will validate if reports of his heroics in the line of duty are true. "Bago kasi natin i-confer ang ganyang special promotion ay kailangan munang i-validate iyan ng Napolcom," Acuña told reporters.

Espadero was promised the spot promotion after neutralizing one of three FX taxi robbers who had already shot him in the face. The incident was his fourth reported encounter with lawbreakers.

Espadero’s promotion, however, was stalled by his college undergraduate status and lack of other requirements. "Kaya ang payo ko dito kay Insp. Espadero ay maghintay lang muna, kaunting antay na lang at mas maganda na sundin ang nakasaad sa batas para sa ganyang special promotion," Acuña said. – Raymond Africa

THE Department of Education is holding a series of Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) test on all Sundays of October to give the country’s out-of-school youths (OSYs) a chance to earn a high school diploma.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the first test held was for OSYs in Regions 9-13 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. On Oct. 12, the tests will be given in Regions 5 to 8, and on Oct. 19 in Regions 1 to 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The tests on Oct. 26 will be for those in Regions 4A, 4B and the National Capital Region.

The A&E Test is a multiple-choice, paper-and-pencil test designed to measure the competencies of those who have not finished formal elementary or secondary education. Targets include elementary and high school dropouts who are at least 11 and 15 years old, respectively on or before Oct. 5.

Industry-based workers, housewives, drivers, and maids are also welcome to take the test, DepEd said.

Test passers are given a diploma certified by the DepEd Secretary himself attesting that the recipient’s competencies are at par with high school graduates from the formal school system, Lapus said. "The test gives a chance to both in- and out-of-school youth to pursue college. Passers, like those schooled in the formal system, are even eligible for government positions." – Ashzel Hachero

Namfrel to take up voter education
if poll automation pushes through

THE National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said it will shift its focus from its operation quick count to a voters’ education program and poll-watching if the Commission on Elections succeeds in fully automating the electoral system in the country.

Henrietta de Villa, concurrent chair of Namfrel and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, said in a press conference that the quick count "will be obsolete" if the 2010 national polls are automated.

Namfrel has been holding the operation quick count parallel with Comelec’s official canvassing of votes since it was established 25 years ago in order to fill the gap created by the long delay in the proclamation of winning candidates at the national level.