PRIVATE-school administrators on Thursday denounced the appointment of former economic planning secretary Romulo Neri as chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) because of his earlier announcement that he will stop tuition increases.

The umbrella organization of private-school owners, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Association (Cocopea), also asked President Arroyo for a permanent Ched chairman following reports that Neri will only serve for a short time.

The Ched chairman has a term of four years.

Neri succeeded Carlito Puno, who was appointed to head the sequestered United Coconut Chemicals Inc.

Asked if he will pursue the goals initiated by his predecessor, Neri said, “We’ll see how far we can pursue on those programs.’’

Meanwhile, private educators claimed that Neri violated the law that created Ched by his assumption into office on Thursday.

Republic Act 7722, the law that created Ched, mandates that the chairman of the commission must have a doctoral degree.

“The fact that he lacks a doctoral degree violates the law. We will question his qualifications before the Ombudsman or the courts,’’ said Gonzalo Duque, Cocopea spokesman.

Neri said that the qualification issue against him had been studied by Malacañang lawyers.

“And according to the lawyers, justifiable naman daw iyon. They assured me that I can take the job because I will be assuming it in an acting, temporary capacity, and I will not have the usual term of a Ched chairman of four years,’’ he said.

“BE careful what you pray for, you just may get it.”

After three typhoons hit the country in a little more than a week, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, Manila archbishop,  lifted the Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluviam, or the prayer for rain he issued last month.

IN addition to a ranking leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), one of the top operatives of the Asian terror group Jema’ah Islamiyah (JI) was reported to have been wounded in the ongoing operations against lawless elements in Basilan and Sulu, the military said on Thursday.

RESIDENTS of Angeles City, on Thursday said the government’s campaign against jueteng is destined to fail unless the National Police unmasks those behind the illegal numbers game.

THREE Philippine high-school students participating in the gruelling 2007 China Mathematical Olympiad for Girls bagged three bronze medals, a feat made more remarkable by two things: first, they were the youngest participants; and second, the competition has been expanded this year with the addition of teams from the United States, Russia and Canada.

PRIVATE-school administrators on Thursday denounced the appointment of former economic planning secretary Romulo Neri as chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) because of his earlier announcement that he will stop tuition increases.