Taxi driver nabbed after passenger complained of lewd act

A taxi driver was arrested after a female passenger accused him of doing a lewd act while she was inside the taxi, GMA News' Victoria Tulad reported on 24 Oras on Thursday.

Bonifacio Asuncion was nabbed by the police on Wednesday evening, a day after the victim submitted footage supposedly showing him masturbating while throwing glances at her legs during their trip from Valenzuela to Manila on Tuesday morning.

"Nakita ko na tumitingin siya sa rearview mirror niya tapos parang gumagalaw yung kamay niya tapos nakita ko yun, nagga-ganun, nagma-masturbate," the victim said.

Asuncion was arrested with the help from his relatives, who helped police track him down to the house of his sibling in Quezon City. He was identified through his taxi's body number.

The police said Asuncion had admitted them his crime, but the driver changed his tune when interviewed by the media.

"Hindi po totoo yun, ma'am. Nakita niyo naman po siguro kung nakababa yung pantalon ko o hindi. Nagugutom na 'ko, ginaganun ko yung tiyan ko," Asuncion said.

He said he accidentally looked at the victim's thighs when he checked on the side mirrors.

The victim, on the other hand, is set on filing charges of unjust vexation against the suspect despite his pleas to forgive him and drop the charges.

"Ayoko po talagang makipag-areglo. Ginagawa ko po 'to 'di lang po para sa 'kin, ayoko na pong ulitin 'yun," the victim said. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News