Filipina nurse assaulted while offering free masks in New York subway

A Filipina nurse was assaulted while offering free face masks to commuters at a subway station in New York City.

Potri Ranka Manis, a nurse and founder of Kinding Sindaw folk dance group, sustained bruises on her face and body after she was violently assaulted by two individuals while distributing masks to subway passengers.

According to the Philippine Consulate in New York, the incident happened on board the E Train near 42nd and 8th Street in Manhattan at around 6 p.m. on August 10.

The two assailants also reportedly shouted racial slurs at Manis while she was being attacked.

"Just when we thought that violence inflicted on our kababayan here in New York had died down, two more incidents in the past week again underscored the need for members of the Filipino Community to remain vigilant," Philippine Consul General Elmer Cato said in a Facebook post on Saturday, August 14.

On August 7, stage actor Miguel Braganza was also assaulted and hit by a gun on the head while on his way to his apartment in the Upper West Side.

The consulate reminded Filipino communities in New York to remain vigilant especially when taking subways.