By Edwin Rollon

THE Department of Education yesterday said it will call the attention of the officials of the division office of Marikina before forming a task force to probe the allegation of concerned parents over the reported videotaping of female swimmers by a young boy during the recent National Capital Region Palaro swimming competition held in Pasig City.

Len Toledo, the Education Department?s Palaro national coordinator, said the agency will also summon the officials of the host Pasig Division Office in order to substantiate the claims of the aggrieved swimming parents who accused the said office of negligence and laxity in connection with the incident.

Reacting to the news report published by Standard Today, Toledo said the incident should not have been blown out of proportion if concerned officials immediately interceded and resolved the issues at hand.

?In the presence of DepEd officials or even a marshal, the videophone used by the young swimmer could have been confiscated right there and then. Kung nakuha agad ?yung phone, na-review agad ito at kung may laman nga na malalaswa nabura na agad,? said Toledo in a telephone call.

Swimming parents told Standard Today that the still unidentified Marikina coach sided with the boy right after the latter was caught taking videos of female swimmers inside the shower rooms of the PhilSports swimming pool area in the final day of competition last Feb.17-19.

The still unnamed coach later apologized and promised to surrender the videophone or the memory card to the Education Department officials, but apparently has yet to make good his promise.

?Although, hindi nila nakuha ang pangalan ng coach, nakuha naman nila ?yung pangalan ng bata kaya madali natin itong ma-aabisuhan. Sasabihan namin ?yung division office regarding this, then we will wait for the results of their own investigation,? said Toledo.

Standard Today tried to get in touch with the department?s Marikina office superintendent Flordeliza Mayari, but she failed to return a call.

Toledo refused to tell if the boy or the coach could face sanctions pending the result of the probe.

Although a formal complaint from the parents is necessary, Toledo said the department can investigate the case based on the published reports on the incident.