Metro Briefs: Manila school reopens

Manila school reopens

The students and teachers of Manila Science High School who were exposed to chemicals two weeks ago remain healthy. In an phone interview on Tuesday, Wilfredo Cabral, Manila schools division superintendent, said that none of the two students, two teachers and janitor have been admitted to a hospital for symptoms of mercury exposure. However, the school is still waiting for the final results of the medical tests conducted on the five. The results are expected to be released on April 7. At the same time, Cabral said that the school reopened its doors to students yesterday but on a limited basis. The decision was made after tests conducted by East Avenue Medical Center showed that the mercury vapor present in the school has dropped to less than 200 nanogram parts per cubic meter from a high of 3,758 nanogram parts per cubic meter last week. According to Cabral, the school will be open until April 7 to allow students to submit requirements. —Aie Balagtas See

Manalo arraignment moved

A Quezon City court has moved the arraignment of expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) member Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo and two others to June 26, after the accused filed motions for reinvestigation and to quash the search warrant. Judge Luisito Cortez of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 84 granted on Tuesday the motion to suspend the scheduled arraignment after the Manalo camp pointed to “irregularities” in the application for the search warrant which led to the police raid and the seizure of several firearms from the Manalo home. Manalo and his nephew Victor Eraño “Jem” Manalo Hemedez face charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition after several guns and bullets were found inside their home on Tandang Sora Avenue. —Jhesset O. Enano