A man was arrested on Sunday for masturbating in a bus beside a woman who happened to be a law enforcer.
Quezon City police head Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said that Maritess Patricio, a policewoman assigned at the Manila Police District, was inside an ES Transport bus when her seatmate, Ching Carreon, opened his pants and exposed himself to her.
The incident happened on Bonifacio Avenue in Balintawak, Quezon City, around 8 a.m.
When Carreon started masturbating, Patricio shouted, prompting the bus driver to stop the vehicle.
Patricio then alighted from the bus and asked for help from a police car which happened to be passing by.
Following his arrest, Carreon underwent inquest proceedings for a charge of unjust vexation.
“The situation is really uncalled for. It just so happened a policewoman witnessed it. Similar incidents should be reported to the barangay or police. Some people could be doing it for self-satisfaction; some are perverts. Letting it pass would make [them] think [this behavior is okay]. This should not be done [nor] tolerated,” Eleazar said.
Quezon City’s Ordinance 2501 or the amended City Gender and Development Code prohibits catcalling and other acts of sexual harassment in public places. If found guilty, suspects face a P5,000 fine or a month in jail.