Dr. Victoriano Tirol, director of the Department Education in Western Visayas, yesterday assured that swift action will be taken on the alleged age-cheating incident that happened in the boys' volleyball tournament of the 2006 Palarong Panlalawigan in Bacolod City.

Tirol told the DAILY STAR last night that he has yet to receive the documents related to the case that involves Fifth District schools supervisor Corazon Mohametano, Pahilanga Elementary School principal Nenita Caballero and PES teacher Julio Ferreros, who served as head coach of the team.

The Department of Education in Negros Occidental is recommending the filing of administrative charges against the three for fielding a player nearly two years over-aged for the competition.

Eva Belicena, Negros Occidental schools division superintendent, said yesterday that the DepEd execs violated Palaro rules and regulations and committed actions prejudicial to the best interest of the service", considered a grave offense under the DepEd.

Tirol said he expects Belicena to submit the findings of the case and the recommendations made by a provincial DepEd committee assigned to probe the incident.

He also assured that Mohametano, Caballero and Ferreros will be given due process. "Off-hand, the nature of the infraction will merit a lifetime ban on coaching without prejudice to filing a criminal or administrative case," Tirol added.

Tirol slapped a lifetime coaching ban on Narciso Jayme, a teacher at Dr. Antonio Lizares Memorial High School in Talisay, for parading an ineligible player in the secondary baseball tournament of the 2006 WVRAA Meet in Roxas City in March.

Among the possible sanctions is suspension from six months to a year without pay, depending on the gravity of the offense, Belicena said.

The uncovering of the cheating incident has compelled the Palaro Jury of Appeals to strip Area V, represented by Pahilanga Elementary School from Hinigaran, of the boys' volleyball crown, and award it to Area III, which will be representing the province in the regional Palaro from Feb. 19-24 in Bacolod City. *CPT

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