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<figure class="op-social"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0sGgG0iTJTE" width="600"></iframe></figure>MANILA - The jeepney driver who is accused of fondling a female passenger&#x27;s private part surfaced Friday at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office to deny the allegation.The driver, Emmanuel Hanopol Escalona, denied that he harassed the woman who was seated beside him last Monday, May 23, at 6 a.m.Escalona insisted that he was just trying to warn the woman against using her cellphone because there were many snatchers in the area.&quot;&#x27;Yung sumakay sa &#x27;kin inaalala ko lang sa kanya &#x27;yung cellphone niya, na h&#x27;wag niya ilabas kasi sa lugar na &#x27;yun e maraming [snatcher],&quot; he said in a DZMM interview.He said that the woman may have been scared by his looks because he did not have enough sleep at that time.&quot;Napatingin lang ako sababa kasi nakatutok &#x27;yung cellphone sa akin. Sinaway ko po siya,&quot; he explained. &quot;Ayun natakot po sa akin. Galing po ako sa... namatayan po. Pulang-pula po &#x27;yung mata ko.&quot;He also said he decided to go to the LTFRB after a video of the alleged abuse went viral.&quot;Ilang gabi rin akong di nakakatulog. Kasi, siyempre halo na ring takot. Di ako nakalutang agad, ngayon lang kami pumunta dito, kasama ko operator ko,&quot; he said.<div><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/nation/metro-manila/05/25/16/babaeng-pasahero-hinipuan-ng-jeepney-driver">Babaeng pasahero, hinipuan ng jeepney driver</a></div>Escalona apologized to the victim for the trouble he caused.The victim, however, said Escalona is lying, saying the driver was really aiming for her private part.READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/metro-manila/05/26/16/woman-sexually-harassed-by-jeepney-driver-recalls-trauma">Woman sexually harassed by jeepney driver recalls trauma</a>&quot;Napakalayo po [ng phone] sa hinawakan niyang maselang bahagi ng katawan ko,&quot; she said.&quot;Masama ang tingin niya sa akin. Nakatingin siya sa katawan ko, kanina pa niya ako tinititigan. Pinatanggal niya yung bag na hawak-hawak ko,&quot; she added.A video of the incident showed the driver sticking his tongue out several times before allegedly fondling the victim.The victim, identified only as Llacuni, said she jumped out of the jeepney even while it was moving to avoid further harassment.&quot;Bale nung paghawak niya po sa maselang bahagi po ng katawan ko, tumalon na lang po ako...kahit napakabilis po ng takbo,&quot; she said in an earlier interview.She said she slammed into a parked car and was nearly run over by another jeepney after she jumped.Llacuni said she is still recovering from the injuries she sustained when she jumped off the jeep.She also said she feels traumatized after hearing the driver&#x27;s voice.&quot;Ngayon pong narinig ko ang boses niya nanginginig na naman ako,&quot; she said.Llacuni earlier said she will file a criminal case against Escalona.LTFRB Board Member Atty. Ariel Inton said they have already endorsed the case to the police and they will also conduct a separate hearing on Monday.

The jeepney driver denied that he fondled the female passenger's private part. He also said he was concerned that the woman was using her cellphone in public. 

Jeepney driver in viral video denies molesting passenger

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Jeepney driver in viral video denies molesting passenger

ABS-CBN News

Published May 27, 2016 01:20 PM PHT

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Updated May 27, 2016 11:56 PM PHT

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sexual harassment

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