Another elderly Filipino was assaulted in Manhattan, the latest in the string of violence and harassment incidents involving Filipino nationals in New York.
Meanwhile, a Filipino-American man died on Monday from injuries sustained when he was grabbed and thrown to the ground during an unarmed robbery in front of his home in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Philippine Consulate General said the victim was walking along Madison Ave. near East 52nd St. on Wednesday when “she was punched without provocation by another woman.”
The suspect immediately fled the scene.
“In view of this incident, the Consulate reminds members of the Filipino community, as well as kababayan visiting New York to exercise the necessary precautions at all times while on the streets or in the subways,” the Consulate said in a statement.
It did not provide details if the incident was a case of hate crime, but the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured that the issue had been raised by the Philippine government with US officials.
“The issue of Asian hate crime has been raised by the Philippine government with US officials. Recently, Philippine Consul General in New York Elmer Cato raised this issue with the concerned authorities in New York City, who gave the assurance that they are taking this matter very seriously and are taking steps to address it,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a separate statement.
“We assure our fellow Filipinos that our Consulate General in New York will continue monitoring these incidents accordingly and is ready to assist hate crime victims and other distressed Filipinos in the area,” she added.
There are about 450,000 Filipinos in 10 American states under the Consulate’s jurisdiction.
Daza said the 74-year-old Filipino’s assault brings to 43 the number of cases of “race-based violence, harassment, and other criminal incident involving Filipinos” monitored by the Consulate.
Most of these incidents were in New York City, particularly Manhattan and Queens.
Police said a man approached 60-year-old Victor Malabayabas to ask for a tissue on Saturday, August 20. When he went to give him one, the suspect grabbed him by the shirt and pushed him against a car and then to the ground, stealing his wallet before running off.
“It was a random robbery and assault and unfortunately, he succumbed to a blood vessel in his brain,” Isa Thompson, a cousin of Malabayabas’ wife Carina, said.
“According to Carina, right after the incident, he was a little bit conscious but when he was brought to the emergency room, that’s when his condition deteriorated almost really quickly.”
Thompson described Malabayabas as simple, humble, and kind-hearted.
She also shared that Malabayabas, who moved to the US in 1996 from Los Baños, Laguna, overcame many life struggles and recently retired. The former Philippine Navy pilot devoted his time to volunteering in the community and in church.
Members of St. Casimir Church share how much Malabayabas has made a difference in the lives of other people with his kindness and care.
Those who know and love him are calling for accountability and justice.
Police told ABS-CBN News that they have not found the suspect in Malabayabas’ case. For Thompson, the chances of finding the attacker are slim to none.
“I don’t lose hope but do I think they will really find him? NO. With the present environment and the things that are happening and you see what’s happening all over, you are not safe anymore. And to think this happened right in front of their house.”
The US Attorney’s Office for Maryland said it will dedicate resources to help fight the crime crisis in Baltimore.
