Electrician jailed for public masturbation

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — An electrician was arrested while masturbating in the public plaza of Sta. Barbara town of Iloilo at around 8:40 p.m. last Monday, local police said.

The suspect, Ronnie Solomon, 33, married and resident of Brgy. Tigtig of the town, was sitting on his motorcycle parked beside a burger stand at the plaza when he was caught doing his thing.

Jennisel de la Cruz, 26, and her mother 48-year-old Lucy, both attendants of the burger stand, allegedly saw Solomon opening his trousers and began masturbating. The two decided to ask for police assistance and had the suspect arrested because it was not the first time he was caught showing off his genitals in public.

Inspector Elberto Pudadera, chief of Sta. Barbara Police, confirmed that Jennisel and Lucy already booked three complaints against Solomon. Except that he did not give a reason for doing what he did, “the suspect seemed to be on his sane self,” said the police official.

Police said Solomon, whose wife is pregnant, has no previous criminal record except for the instant complaint against him. They are studying the filing of unjust vexation case against the suspect, who might be suffering from a psychological disorder, said Pudadera.  - THE FREEMAN