MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos in New York City are being advised to remain vigilant as crime rates there shoot up, with major crimes soaring by 37% compared to the past year and hate crimes increasing by 12.6% in the same period.
The Philippine consulate in the city also advised Filipinos taking mass transport to also exercise vigilance as transit crimes have also increased by 55.5% compared to last year.
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“Kababayan are reminded to be situationally aware at all times when outside their residences and to take the necessary precautions to avoid becoming a victim of crime,” the consulate said in an advisory.
Filipinos have recently been targets of assault in the United States, in a seeming surge of racially-motivated attacks against Asians.
The consulate has so far recorded 41 cases of hate crimes and other crimes against Filipinos, including the latest incident where an 18-year-old tourist from Cebu was reportedly assaulted near the Philippine Center in Manhattan. — Xave Gregorio