Here's the correct response when seeing sexual harassment in public spaces

It's always infuriating to experience, witness or even read about sexual harassment in public spaces.

Only recently, passengers on a jeep immediately ganged up on a man who allegedly molested a female commuter.

While the man was seen on CCTV coming close to the woman, the badly-beaten up 53-year-old maintained he was only trying to balance himself on the grab rails and denied molesting her.

At times like these, legal expert Atty. Concepcion says it's important to remember that the public should not "take the law into their own hands."

"Sa palagay ko ay maaari silang makasuhan," Concepcion said during her segment on GMA-7 morning show Unang Hirit.

"As a general rule, 'yung mga tao should not really take the law into their own hands."

She explained that while the urge to protect your fellow commuter is admirable, teaching the alleged violator a lesson through violent means might also spell trouble for the do-gooder.

"Kung merong naganap na krimen sa inyong harap, ang dapat gawin siguro ay isumbong sa pulis na lamang ang gumawa ng nararapat," Concepcion said.

"If, at all, kung ano na lamang siguro 'yung kinakailangan para maprotektahan ang biktima pero hindi na siguro makipagbugbugan pa."

Moreover, the lawyer stressed that everyone deserves a chance to defend themselves.

"Justifying talaga ang (use of force in) defense of a stranger, in the same way justifying din ang konsepto ng self-defense. Hindi naman puwede na wala kang gagawin kung endagered ang buhay mo o ang buhay ng ibang tao."

Concepcion reminds everyone that there's a law called Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017, which penalizes cat-calling and other forms of harassment in public spaces due to one's sex, gender or sexual orientation.

"So yung mga guilty na nambabastos ng kapwa in public — mag-prepare na kayo dahil sa batas na 'to, mas mataas din ang penalties for these acts." — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News