Consulate: 74-year-old Filipina victim of unprovoked attack in New York City

A 74-year-old Filipina was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Manhattan, the Philippine Consulate General in New York City said.

The consulate said the victim was walking along Madison Avenue near 52nd Street when she was punched “without provocation” by another woman who fled the scene.

Given the latest attack, the consulate reminded the Filipino community in New York City to remain vigilant.

“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 an advisory released on Friday.

Consul General Elmer Cato said hate crime incidents against Asians in New York decreased by 53% as hate crimes against Blacks increased by 67%.

An earlier report said a subway train passenger was caught putting saliva on a fellow passenger who is a Filipino, prompting the latter to retaliate by knocking the other passenger down.

The subway incident, Cato said, was just one of the 40 reported hate crime incidents against Filipinos. — DVM, GMA News