Consul General Elmer Cato: We grieve with the rest of the Filipino Community over the death of our kababayan, Maria Ambrocio, a 58-year-of health frontliner from Bayonne, New Jersey, who is the latest victim of deranged individuals on the loose in New York City.
PH nurse dies after being knocked down in New York
THE Philippine Consulate General in New York reiterated its call to authorities to take the necessary steps, including heightened police visibility, to protect the public following the death of a Filipina frontliner who was knocked down by a homeless person near Times Square.
Philippine Consul General Elmer Cato said Maria Ambrocio, 58, oncology nurse, of Bayonne, New Jersey died yesterday of head trauma she sustained after she was knocked down by a homeless individual suffering from a mental disorder.
“We grieve with the rest of the Filipino Community over the death of our kababayan, Maria Ambrocio, a 58-year-of health frontliner from Bayonne, New Jersey, who is the latest victim of deranged individuals on the loose in New York City,” Cato said.
Maria’s passing was announced shortly after she was removed from life support a few hours ago, Cato said.
The Consul General said Maria was walking with a kababayan near Times Square after visiting the Philippine Consulate General when she was struck by the suspect who was reportedly being chased after grabbing a mobile phone from someone.
Cato said the incident is the latest in the series of violent acts committed by mentally-ill individuals against members of the Filipino Community in New York City since the start of the year.
“Beginning January, we have seen several of our kababayans, most of them senior citizens, violently assaulted by individuals with mental health issues,” Cato said.
“We have joined calls for authorities to take the necessary steps, including heightened police visibility, to protect the public after we noted the surge in anti-Asian hate incidents that targeted some of our kababayan.”
The Consulate General also supported calls for authorities to take the necessary measures to address mental health issues, especially among the homeless.
“We reiterate these calls as we mourn our loss but we also ask ourselves: How many more Maria Ambrocios do we have to mourn before the streets would be made safe again?,” he added.
