Lawyer slaps poll officer

MANILA, Philippines — For allegedly slapping an election officer, a  lawyer  who is running for the municipal council in Camiling, Tarlac, is facing disbarment.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon yesterday said the poll body would seek the disbarment of Marty Toralba.

“The candidate who slapped our Comelec EO is Marty Toralba, who claims to be a lawyer. We will have him disbarred,” Guanzon posted on her Twitter account.

Guanzon ordered the Comelec-Central Luzon office to file a complaint against Toralba for assaulting  election officer Teddy Mariano.

Toralba was reportedly detained after the incident.

The Comelec Employees’ Union wanted Toralba sanctioned for his action.

The group reported that Toralba slapped the 59-year-old Mariano as the poll officer was leading the removal of illegal campaign posters in his area of responsibility.