LTO suspends license of lip-licking jeepney driver

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has suspended for three months the license of the jeepney driver who admitted telling a female passenger:  “Sarap (yummy)” and “Pakapa (let me feel it).”

The punishment meted out against Emmanuel Escalona was recommended by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) after the passenger accused him of sexual harassment.

In a video that went viral on social media, Escalona was shown repeatedly glancing at the passenger, licking his lips and eventually reaching out for the woman, who was forced to jump out of the moving jeepney in Cubao, Quezon City, on May 23. The complainant claimed that Escalona touched her private parts.

In a hearing at the LTFRB, Escalona apologized and said he was merely concerned when the passenger took out her cell phone in the area teeming with snatchers. He later admitted that he made the lewd comments.

The LTO order dated May 27 said Escalona’s driving privileges were preventively suspended for three months and that he should surrender his license to the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Division.

Sought for comment, the complainant’s mother said she preferred that Escalona be barred from driving for life. “It’s fortunate that my daughter escaped but what about the others who might be victimized by him?” she said.

LTFRB board member Ariel Inton said he hoped Escalona’s license would be eventually canceled after the LTO’s investigation.