Jeepney driver in viral vid claims he was reaching for gearshift, not legs of passenger

Emmanuel Hanopol Escalona, the driver accused of sexual harassment by a passenger, claimed he was reaching for the gearshift — and not his passenger's legs — in a video that has gone viral.

His employer Johnny Buasen told Oscar Oida on 24 Oras that Escalona made the confession through phone and had even insisted that he didn't know what came over him at the moment.

"'Di niya raw po alam kung bakit niya nagawa 'yon... Sabi ko sa kanya, bakit mo nagawa yung ganun na nambabastos ka. Sabi niya, hindi ko po alam, 'di ko po talaga alam boss kung ano pong nangyari sa 'kin," Buasen said on Wednesday.

The jeepney operator didn't believe Escalona, who has failed to show up for work for two days in a row.

"Paghawak niya daw sa pagpasok ng quinta, hindi niya raw namalayan, nahawakan niya yung legs niya. Sabi ko sa kanya ang quintana mo is pa-abante, hindi naman paatras, bakit mo nahawakan legs niya... Papalusot talaga 'yun," Buasen said.

Buasen was served with a show cause order at his home in Fairview by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) as part of the agency's investigation.

"Kailangan pong umattend at malaman nung operator mismo kung ano po yung ginawa nung kanyang driver... Maaari pong maapektuhan yung kanyang mga prankisa," said Val Vijandre of the LTFRB.

The LTFRB, Buasen, and GMA News attempted to contact Escalona separately.

Escalona initially agreed to meet with GMA News at the municipal hall in Malinta, Valenzuela to air his side and contact the Public Attorney's Office but never appeared.

Meanwhile, the unit driven by Escalona in the video by Llacuni has been shunned by other drivers.

"Parang natatakot siya na baka daw siya daw ang pagkamalan na siya ang gumawa ng ganun," Buasen said. —Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News