Pinay consular officer is latest victim of Asian hate

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipina consular officer became the latest victim of Asian hate crime after she was verbally assaulted in New York.

Philippine Consul General Elmer Cato said the latest incident involved a colleague at the Philippine consulate general, who was accosted while aboard the B train on her way to the consulate. The incident was reported to city police.

This prompted Sen. Panfilo Lacson to back yesterday calls for increased police presence to prevent further incidents of anti-Asian hate in the US. 

The senator supported Cato’s calls for increased police presence especially in the subways, and for Filipinos to report hate crimes to the consulate or via 911 if they witness or become victims themselves of such crimes. 

“Based on accounts initially cited by Consul General to New York Elmer Cato, there have been at least 14 hate incidents involving members of the Filipino community so far this year, counting the latest incident. This is disturbing and has to stop,” said Lacson, who chairs the committee on foreign affairs in the Commission on Appointments. 

When Lacson headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001, he ordered an increase in police visibility, particularly foot patrols – an action that helped decrease criminality, mainly due to the deterrent effect on criminals. 

“Hate crimes and racism have no place anywhere. As Consul General Cato pointed out, the Filipino community can be part of the solution by reporting such incidents to the authorities for prompt action. This solution should be adopted by all Filipino communities abroad, not just in the US,” he said. 

“The unlucky Filipina diplomat must have encountered a reincarnated barbaric tyrant in that train,” Lacson said of the latest incident on Twitter.