Local bet in hot water for slapping poll officer over illegal campaign materials
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Mon, 08 Apr 2019 08:18:19 +0000
A candidate running for a local position in Tarlac is in hot water for slapping an election officer (EO) during the Commission on Election’s campaign (Comelec) against illegal campaign materials in Camiling town.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said on Monday that charges would be filed against the unidentified candidate pending the formal filing of a case
Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, in a Twitter post, identified the candidate as lawyer Marty Toralba, who is running for board member in Tarlac.
“Atty. Marty Franz Torralba, repent now. I can hear your arrogance even when you are in jail waiting for inquest proceedings,” Guanzon said, adding that she would also file disbarment proceedings against the accused. Toralba was arrested and detained by the Camiling police following the incident last week.
Jimenez said that it was the first such incident under “Operation Baklas,” stressing that what the candidate did was not right even if he had an axe to grind against the EO.
Jimenez said a video of the incident would show that the EO was respectful as he talked to the candidate.
“If a candidate feels that he is being singled out during the removal of illegal campaign materials, it is still not right to resort to violence. We have a remedy to address the problem, and the Comelec will stand by what is right because the election officer is a person in authority,” he added.“The candidate took matters into his own hands literally and laid hands on a person in authority, someone who is just doing his job, Jimenez pointed out. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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