Malacañang has urged the United States government to “investigate” and “prosecute” the alleged killer of Filipina nurse Maria Ambrocio in Times Square, New York City.
“We call upon the US government to do what is incumbent upon any state where there is a killing,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press briefing.
Roque made the call following the death of 58-year-old Ambrocio, who is a health frontliner from Bayonne, New Jersey.
All victims of violations of the right to life are entitled to a speedy domestic remedy, Roque said, eferring to the assault on Ambrocio by the homeless man, identified as Jermaine Foster, who was said to be mentally disturbed.
Ambrocio had been on life support for the head trauma she sustained after she was knocked down by Foster, 26, near Times Square.
Ambrocio was walking with a fellow Filipino 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.
According to a police report, Foster first grabbed the mobile phone of a 29-year-old woman along West 41st Street and Broadway and then collided with Ambrocio, knocking the latter down as he fled.
The Philippine Consulate General in New York meanwhile called on authorities to make streets safer following the assault.
“We grieve with the family of our kababayan Maria Ambrocio, a health frontliner, who died from her injuries after she was knocked down by a homeless man near Philippine Consulate General in New York on Friday,” Consul General Elmer Cato said in a Twitter post.
Ambrocio suffered head trauma and fought for her life for a day and a half at Bellevue Hospital.
She was an oncology nurse at the Bayonne Medical Center in the state of New Jersey.
“At 1:30 p.m. on Monday, the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Filipino Community] will hold a memorial mass for Maria Ambrocio at the St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street,” Cato said.
He also urged Filipinos around the world to pray all together for the eternal repose of Ambrocio’s soul and for a safer New York.
