Man who attacked elderly passengers in Muntinlupa jeepney arrested by police

Man hits elderly passengers inside jeepney, arrested

A man, who was caught on video hurting elderly passengers inside a jeepney, has been arrested by the police in Muntinlupa City.

According to Oscar Oida’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the viral video showed an old man trying to fight back against the topless man, but he eventually gave up.

The suspect did not stop and went after another elderly person who was already on the floor.

The other passengers couldn’t do anything but cry and scream at the situation.

The suspect was eventually arrested by the Muntinlupa City Police.

“Yung area kasi na pinanggalingan is just within the area of Substation 3, so immediate yung ating pag-responde doon,” said Police Colonel Olivia Cayuhan Ancheta.

(The area where the incident occurred is just within the jurisdiction of Substation 3, so our response there was immediate.)

GMA News reached out to the suspect for a comment, but he only responded: “Di ko po alam e. ‘Di ko na po natatandaan…Nakasakay lang ako sa jeep eh… May naakaaway po ako.”

(I don’t know. I can’t remember... I was just riding the jeepney... I got into a fight with someone.)

The Muntinlupa City Police is currently investigating the cause of the incident.

Meanwhile, Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon received information that the suspect was a beggar who would harass passengers if not given anything.

“Ang nakuha ko lang nga e sumakay nga doon sa passenger jeep at 'yung typical na nanghihingi nanghaharass pag di mo nabigyan. I think it escalated doon kasi high on substance, substance abuse,” he said, admitting that it's a problem in the said area.

(The information I received was that he boarded the passenger jeepney and was doing the typical routine of begging for money and harassing people if he wasn't given any. I think it escalated because he was high.))

“In the past, sila ay ma-aaprehend pero there is not much na magamit para sila ay ma-contain. Usually, nababalik lang sa community, so community work ang paiigtingin namin ngayon,” Biazon said.

(In the past, they would be apprehended, but there wasn't much we could use to keep them contained. Usually, they just end up back in the community, so we will be intensifying our community-level interventions now.)

“Nagbigay na rin ako ng instruction na mag-focus sa area na ’yan lalo na at main thoroughfare siya na dinadaanan ng maraming pasahero,” he further said.

(I have also given instructions to focus heavily on that area, especially since it is a main thoroughfare used by many commuters.)

The suspect is facing physical injury charges. Meanwhile, the victims are already in stable condition. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA News