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Fil-Am nurse’s tragic death in New York sparks calls for authorities to address safety in the city

By PINKY S. ICAMEN Published Oct 11, 2021 9:29 pm

Oncology nurse Maria Ambrocio was knocked to the ground by a homeless mugger on Times Square. More than 30 hours later, she succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, where she was surrounded by her family.

Ambrocio, 58, was in New York City on Oct. 8 to accompany a friend to the Philippine Consulate and have lunch. At around 1:30 p.m., they were walking along Times Square, which unfortunately was the same moment that suspect Jermaine Foster was being chased after snatching a woman’s phone according to police.

Foster crashed onto Ambrocio and knocked her to the ground as he fled. The police said after Ambrocio fell, the 26-year-old suspect crashed into a police officer who arrested him. 

Ambrocio hit her head on the pavement and was taken to the Bellevue Hospital. In a text message to the New York Post on Oct. 9, Ambrocio’s brother Carlito Sta. Maria confirmed the news that she was taken off life support after sustaining traumatic brain injury. 

In an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Oct. 11, Ambrocio’s niece Michelle Sta. Maria Magalona said their family is “devastated and shocked” over her aunt’s passing. Magalona said as the family is still grappling with what happened to Ambrocio, their initial plans are to have a viewing and cremation will follow.

Speaking with The New York Times, longtime colleague Dineen Olivera said that Ambrocio had been looking forward to coming home to the Philippines for her father’s 90th birthday. But the country went into lockdown and her father died after contracting COVID-19.

Friends and loved ones are heartbroken and called Ambrocio’s death senseless as they still cannot come to terms why Foster, who was described as a mentally disturbed homeless man, was on the streets if he has a recent prior arrest.

Following the incident, the Philippine Consulate General in New York released a statement urging authorities to make streets safer.

“We have joined calls for authorities to take the necessary steps, including heightened police visibility, to protect the public after we noted the surge in anti-Asian hate incidents that targeted some of our kababayan,” Consul General Elmer Cato said.

He added, “We also supported calls for authorities to take the necessary measures to address mental health issues, especially among the homeless.”

Cato also pointed out how, since the beginning of January, several Pinoys, most of them senior citizens, have been violently assaulted by individuals with mental health issues. 

“We reiterate these calls as we mourn our loss but we also ask ourselves: How many more Maria Ambrocios do we have to mourn before the streets would be made safe again?” Cato said.

Malacañang also appealed to the US government on Oct. 11 to investigate the death of Ambrocio. 

“We appeal to the US administration to investigate and prosecute the killer of this Filipino nurse. We call upon the US government to do what is incumbent upon any state where there is a killing,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who added that “all victims of violations of the right to life are entitled to a speedy domestic remedy.”

On Oct. 10, Foster, who suffers from mental health issues according to his family, was charged with second-degree murder for Ambrocio’s death. He was also charged with two counts of robbery for allegedly snatching a cellphone and burglary for invading another victim’s home on the day that he struck Ambrocio.

The Philippine Consulate in New York and the Migrant Center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi are organizing a memorial Mass for Ambrocio on Oct. 11. 

In an interview with CBS, her family said Ambrocio immigrated to the US in the ‘80s and often sent money back to the Philippines. She was passionate about being a nurse, that during the worst days of COVID-19, she went to work every night at Bayonne Medical Center in New Jersey to take on more than 12-hour shifts. She even posted on her Facebook page a photo of her in full battle gear—PPE, face mask and face shield—and captioned her post “I cannot stay at home, I’m a nurse.”

She is survived by her husband, stepchildren and grandchildren.