Police are hunting the man who berated and allegedly punched a nurse over a seat dispute inside a UV Express van in Quezon City Tuesday.
The incident went viral on social media after three videos were uploaded by a certain Soy Gonzales on social networking site Facebook.
The nurse in the video was identified as Joana Mangubat, 22, while the suspect was identified as John Michael A. Musni.
Mangubat, who works at Bernardino General Hospital in Quezon City, is weighing whether or not to file charges against Musni before the Quezon City Police District Station 5 due to the embarrassment and pain the incident caused her.
QCPD Station 5 chief Supt. Alex Alberto said the incident happened at around 12:20 p.m. on Zabarte Road in Novaliches.
Mangubat told police that Musni got furious at her after she refused to move to enable him and his wife be seated beside the door because her destination, North Olympus, is near. She said that the couple happened to also alight there.
While seated beside the door, Mangubat said the couple kept talking about her, prompting her to speak up. “Di ko naman po alam na Olympus lang din kayo,” the nurse reasoned out.
But instead of apologizing, Musni berated the nurse more. “Manahimik ka, manahimik ka. Isa pang salita mo…Akala mo di ako pumapatol sa babae? Isa pang salita mo…Malaki problema ko. Wag ka sasabat sa usapan namin,” Musni said.
Mangubat got off the vehicle and the suspect allegedly punched her on the shoulder. It was not captured, but it can be heard from a 20-second clip that Musni was yelling and cursing at her.
“Di mo alam ang problema ko, malaki, sobrang laki…Gusto mo ikuwento ko pa sayo? Inabala mo na kami aabalahin mo pa yung nagmamaneho,” Musni said.
The third video showed Mangubat crying, with Gonzales comforting her. Gonzales assured to upload the video to give Musni a lesson.
Alberto said the suspect may face charges of physical injury, unjust vexation, and oral defamation which are bailable offenses. Mangubat told Alberto that she still needs to consult her lawyer regarding her complaint.
Police went to Musni’s address on Jupiter St., Phase 3, North Olympus, Barangay Kaligayahan but did not find him there. Alberto expects Musni to appear before them and explain his side.
Alberto urged the victim to pursue charges against Musni.
“Kanina nagpunta siya (biktima) sa police station at hindi na siya traumatic kausap. Ang hamon ko nga sa kanya eh i-file ang kaso against sa suspect,” Alberto said.
“Baka mamihasa at magkaroon ng similar incident. Maganda na ituloy ang pag-file ng kaso to also discourage other people from doing the same thing,” he added. (VANNE ELAINE P. TERRAZOLA • FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD)