Male Student Passenger Accused of Inappropriate Touching Inside a Jeepney
A male student passenger was accused by a female commuter of touching her inside a public jeepney.
Recently, Ritz Canale, a Facebook user, shared her experience in a post after she was allegedly touched by a fellow student inside the jeepney. The post quickly went viral and drew various reactions online.
According to her post, the woman said she felt uneasy after allegedly being touched several times by her seatmate, who she claimed was also a student. She shared that she tried to speak up and asked him to stop, believing that her discomfort was clear.
“SHOUTOUT PO kay kuya na katabe ko sa jeep kanina nung pauwi ako, hinihipuan moko kala mo diko ramdam?!?!! ilang beses ako nagsabe na tigilan moyan kase malalagot ka ayaw mopa tumigil kahit may nakaka kita na sayo. nilagay mo pa talaga yung kamay mo sa ilalim ng bag mo para di makita ah?!. lumipat nanga ko ng upuan tumabe kapa talaga sakin??!” she wrote.
Canale also mentioned that she changed seats to avoid further contact but felt that the situation did not improve. Her post served as a warning to other women, urging them to stay alert while commuting, especially in crowded public transportation like jeepneys.
Eventually, the male passenger identified Shawn Rioja responded publicly and denied all accusations. He explained that his hand was hidden because he was holding his phone and listening to music during the ride.
Rioja maintained that he never touched the woman and said that he was already seated before she sat beside him. He also shared that the accusation caused him fear, stress, and concern for his safety and his family’s well-being.
Not long after, the woman who made the post issued a public apology. She admitted that her reaction was influenced by fear and misunderstanding. She expressed regret for the pain and trouble her post caused and acknowledged that the situation escalated more than she expected.
In another post, a female passenger disappointed w/ bus conductor after her change was not returned
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
