Mom of Fil-Am killed in US questions cops' 'excessive use' of force

Medina de Leon, mother of Mylene de Leon Scott, a Filipino-American who was shot and killed on Thursday by US cops in Virginia questioned the "excessive force" used by authorities.

Scott immediately died after she was shot by cops who failed to subdue her with a stun gun after she allegedly became hostile while holding a knife and a pair of scissors, according to a report from Balitanghali's Kara David.

“Bilang alagad ng batas ang alam ko hindi nila dapat gawin yun kasi una po babae lang yun,” De Leon said.

She explained that her daughter did not have the strength to resist two male cops because she was skinny and was only 5'3 in height.

“Ipagpalagay na sinasabi nilang may kutsilyo, may gunting pero yung kutsilyo pinanghihiwa [lang] daw ng pizza pie,” De Leon said, adding “Yung mga criminal nga hinuhuli nang buhay kung maaari.”

She also belied police theories that what caused Scott to be aggressive was her separation from her American ex-husband. They have two children.

De Leon explained that they have already been living separately for two years and her daughter has moved on from the relationship.



Impartial investigation

Meanwhile, in a statement on Friday, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia of the Philippine Embassy in Washington called for an impartial and speedy investigation of the shooting incident.

Consul Elmer Cato earlier said the embassy could not conduct an investigation because the 38-year-old Scott has already been in the US for 13 years and was already a naturalized American citizen.

Cato added that based on police reports, Scott was uncooperative with police authorities.

“Sinasabing may hawak siyang kutsilyo at saka gunting, and was threatening fellow employees... Nang dumating 'yung police, they asked her to drop the scissors and the knife but she refused,” Cato said.

The family of Scott and the Fil-Am community in the US are calling out for justice after the incident. -Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News

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