PBBM assures victims of assistance
CANADIAN prosecutors have charged a 30-year-old Vancouver resident with murder for killing at least 11 people aged between 5 and 65 and injuring dozens after he rammed an SUV through a crowd at a Filipino community festival in the western Canadian city, police said on Sunday (Monday in Manila).
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed concerned authorities, especially the Philippine diplomatic staff in Vancouver, to immediately attend to the needs of the Filipinos affected by the attack.
The President, in a social media post late Sunday, also called on the Filipino community in Vancouver to remain calm but vigilant.
“We have given specific instructions to our diplomats and staff in Vancouver to extend assistance to the victims and coordinate with Canadian authorities properly. I encourage everyone concerned to keep calm but remain vigilant,” Marcos said in a social media post.
The man, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder by prosecutors in British Columbia and “further charges are anticipated,” according to a post on X by the Vancouver Police.
Lo appeared in court on Sunday, hours after police arrested him at the scene of the incident on Saturday evening. Court documents seen by Reuters did not show a plea.
Authorities described Lo as having had a “significant history” of interactions with authorities involving mental health. They said there was no evidence of terrorism.
“This is the darkest day in our city’s history,” Vancouver Interim Chief Constable Steve Rai told reporters at a press conference.
Police said two dozen people were injured, some critically, and warned that the death toll could rise in the coming days and weeks. As of Sunday afternoon, Rai said he did not believe there were any ongoing threats to the community.
More than 100 police officers joined the investigation, as local officials worked with provincial and federal authorities to provide support services. Messages of condolence and support came from across the globe.
“The community will feel this for a long time,” RJ Aquino, chair of the community advocacy group Filipino BC, told reporters. “We want to tell everybody that we’re grieving. We want to tell everybody that we see and hear the support from around the world at this point.”
The attack on Saturday evening took place two days before Canada’s federal election on Monday.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney interrupted his campaigning and traveled to Vancouver on Sunday, where he knelt in front of candles and flowers laid at the scene of the car ramming to pay his respects to the victims. He also attended a church where he lit a candle and observed a moment of silence.
Carney earlier released a statement in which he expressed his condolences to the country’s Filipino community.
“Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son or a daughter. Those families are living every family’s nightmare,” he told reporters in Hamilton, Ontario.
“I join all Canadians in mourning with you. I know that Canadians are united with you,” he said.
British Columbia Premier David Eby said at a press conference near the site of the attack on Sunday afternoon that it was hard not to feel rage towards the man who “murdered innocent people” for reasons that were not yet known.
“I want to turn the rage that I feel into ensuring that we stand with the Filipino community, that we deliver what they need, that we stand with those families who have lost loved ones,” he told reporters.
“I know it’s hard to believe it in this moment, but I know we will come back stronger.”
More than 12 hours after the incident, police still did not have a motive for the attack at the festival, which took place without a dedicated police presence or heavy vehicle barriers.
“There were no known threats to the event or the Filipino community,” Rai said.
The suspect was initially chased down and held by festival-goers until police arrived, witnesses said. The injured were taken to multiple hospitals, police said.
The incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. in Vancouver’s Sunset neighborhood, an area known for its large Asian population, where the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party, celebrating a Philippine national hero, was taking place.
One witness told CTV News he saw a black vehicle driving erratically in the area of the festival just before the crowd was struck. A photo of the aftermath posted online showed a dark Audi SUV with both front fenders crumpled and the hood pushed up toward the vehicle’s windshield.
While mass casualty attacks are far less common in Canada than in the United States, such incidents have occurred with some regularity north of the border.
At least two of those attacks involved motor vehicles. In 2021, a man killed four members of a Muslim family by running them over with a pickup truck. In 2018, a man drove a rented van into a lunch-hour crowd in Toronto, killing 10 people and injuring 15 along a sidewalk thronged with pedestrians.
‘UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY’
Marcos said the lives lost during the “unspeakable tragedy” will not be forgotten.
“The Filipino people stand together in mourning, in prayer, and in unwavering support. We will do everything in our power to bring comfort, to bring help, and to honor their memory with action,” he said.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a briefing in Malacanang yesterday, said the Philippine Consulate has provided hotlines for the families and relatives of the victims of the car-ramming incident that resulted in the death of 11 persons and injured several others.
“Ito po ay kapwa Filipino, minadali po kaagad na matulungan, ibigay po ang lahat ng maaaring maitulong, lahat ng koneksyon sa mga Filipino na nadamay po dito sa trahedya po sa Vancouver (These are fellow Filipinos, we are expediting the provision of help, we will give every help that we can give, all connections that we can provide to the Filipinos who were involved in the tragedy in Vancouver),” Castro said.
She said Philippine Consulate personnel are also closely coordinating with the Vancouver Police Department for updates on the incident.
‘HORRIFIC’
Online images from the scene in Vancouver showed the bodies of victims on the pavement alongside a row of colorful food trucks as others attended to them on a roadway littered with debris, including what appeared to be a motorized scooter.
A witness who did not wish to be identified said he had seen about 15 people lying on the ground after the SUV plowed into the crowd. The witness said the driver tried to run but was chased down and held against a fence for about 10 minutes until police arrived.
“I didn’t get to see the driver, all I heard was an engine rev,” Yoseb Vardeh, co-owner of food truck Bao Buns, said in an interview with Postmedia.
“I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there’s just bodies everywhere,” said Vardeh, his voice breaking with emotion. “He went through the whole block; he went straight down the middle.”
The attack came at the end of the festival, following a concert headlined by Filipino-American rapper Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, according to Mable Elmore, a member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, who attended the event.
“Everybody was happy and getting ready to go. And that’s when, that’s when the incident happened,” Elmore told reporters through tears.
“We are in incredible pain,” she said. “We will come together out of this catastrophe through the support and the love from the broad community.”
The festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, honors Datu Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino chieftain who defeated Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521.
The government of British Columbia officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, acknowledging the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province.
The centerpiece of the festival is a multi-block street party featuring Filipino food and traditions, live performances and cultural displays.
SARA CONDEMNS ATTACK
Vice President Sara Duterte condemned the assault on Filipinos in Vancouver “in the strongest possible terms,” saying “there is no justification for targeting peaceful festival goers and those responsible must be held fully accountable under Canadian law.”
“I offer my condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and injured in the recent incident at the Lapu-Lapu Day Celebration in Vancouver, Canada. My thoughts are with every kababayan affected by an act of violence that has no place in our shared humanity,” she said in a statement.
“I thank the Canadian Government and deeply appreciate the efforts of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver for their coordination with Canadian authorities to ensure every Filipino in need receives assistance, comfort, and clear guidance. Their commitment to our kababayan’s well-being offers immense reassurance during these challenging times,” Duterte added.
Speaker Romualdez says he has asked Philippine consular officials “to act swiftly and ensure that our kababayans are given the support, protection, and justice they deserve. I also call on the Canadian authorities to exhaust every means to bring those responsible to account and to strengthen measures that ensure the safety of all, especially our Filipino community.”
“Today, our hearts grieve with our Filipino community in Vancouver. What was supposed to be a day of joy — a day to celebrate our heroes, our heritage, and the spirit that binds us as one Filipino family — turned into a day of heartbreak,” he said.
The Speaker said the “loss of lives, the pain of those injured, and the shock of the entire Filipino-Canadian community are wounds that reach far beyond borders.”
“As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I want our kababayans in Canada to know: Hindi kayo nag-iisa. We are one with you in mourning, and we stand ready to help in any way we can,” he said.
‘DEEPEST CONDOLENCES’
Senate President Francis Escudero extended his “deepest condolences” to the family of Filipinos whose loved ones were killed in Vancouver.
“We extend our deepest condolences because a tragedy experienced by Filipinos anywhere is grieved by Filipinos everywhere. When we are linked by blood, not even a vast ocean that separates us now deadens the pain, that is why the homeland also weeps,” Escudero said in a statement.
He said it was saddening that a “celebration of heroism and freedom of our race” has turned into a “moment of despair.”
“But we are consoled by the fact that it is times of darkness that we see the abundant kindness shine through by those who care: the first responders who rushed to aid, a nation expressing solidarity, and a global outpouring of affection,” he said.
“There is no place in this world for such horrible acts of violence and I trust the Canadian law enforcement agencies will leave no stone unturned to ensure that justice is served,” he added.
Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros said she is one with Filipinos affected by the attack.
“My fervent prayers are with the families of those whose loved ones have been killed or injured, and with the entire Filipino-Canadian community,” Hontiveros said.
Sen. Loren Legarda said the whole nation is saddened and concerned by the tragic event that occurred to Filipinos in Vancouver after it was marred with “senseless violence.”
“We strongly condemn the heinous attack. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and the entire Filipino community in British Columbia and beyond who are mourning this unimaginable loss,” she said.
PUBLIC WARNED
The Philippine Consulate in Vancouver warned the public to beware of fundraising campaigns claiming to raise funds on behalf of victims of the attack.
The consulate said it issued the warning after receiving information that some individuals have set up GoFundMe campaigns allegedly to raise funds for the victims of the horrific incident.
“It has come to the Philippine Consulate General’s attention that certain individuals have set up GoFundMe pages claiming to raise funds to support the victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day Incident, using a screencap of the Consulate’s official message as a backdrop as part of its material on the said fundraising page,” the consulate said.
“The public is advised that the Philippine Consulate General has not created any fundraising efforts nor has sanctioned any entities to raise funds on behalf of the victims of the Lapu Lapu Day incident,” it added.
It called on the public to exercise vigilance and prudence to avoid being victimized by what it said are unscrupulous and malicious actors” attempting to exploit the incident that has befallen the Filipino Community in British Columbia.
The consulate said Filipinos affected by the incident and needing assistance should immediately call the following hotline numbers: +6046535858 and +6047673354, or the Vancouver Police Department Victim Support at +8005630808.
The consulate has yet to provide the names of the victims of the incident.
The Department of Foreign Affairs assured the Filipino community in Vancouver, particularly the victims of the incident, of its assistance and cooperation with Canadian law enforcement authorities in the investigation of the incident.
“The Department and the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver stand ready to extend the appropriate assistance to the bereaved families and will cooperate with Canadian authorities to ensure that adequate support will be provided to our Filipino community,” the DFA said.
“As we mourn the tragic turn of events, we remember the one million strong Filipino community in Canada and pray for their continued strength and resilience,” it added.
There are around 159,000 Filipinos living and working in British Columbia, mostly in the Greater Vancouver area.
DMW AID
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is ready to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) adversely affected by the deadly attack in Vancouver.
“The DMW stands ready to provide all the necessary assistance and support to the victims of the incident, as we remain committed to ensuring the safety and wellness of our OFWs,” said the DMW.
It said the Department and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Vancouver are open to receiving requests for assistance from affected OFWs and their families.
They may be done through the Migrant Workers’ Office Hotline (+1 604 767 3354); DMW-OWWA Hotline 1348; and Whatsapp/Viber/Phone (+63 920-517-1059; +63 927-147-8186; +63 908-326-8344).
“For immediate assistance and support to all OFWs and their families affected by the tragic incident at the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver, Canada, you may contact the following,” said DMW.
“The DMW expresses its profound sorrow and sympathies to the victims of the horrific incident,” it said.
“We ask for prayers of healing, safety, comfort, solidarity, and justice for those affected by this unspeakable tragedy,” added the DMW. – With Reuters, Raymond Africa, Ashzel Hachero and Gerard Naval
