President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned government agencies to help Filipino victims of the incident in a block party to mark Lapu-Lapu Day in Vancouver, Canada, which resulted in several deaths as a car plowed through a street festival.
"The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver is working with Canadian authorities to ensure that the incident will be thoroughly investigated, and that the victims and their families are supported and consoled," Marcos said in a brief statement Sunday.
Around nine persons were killed. A 30-year-old male suspect from Vancouver was arrested at the scene and is under custody of the Vancouver police.
Initial reports from the Vancouver police showed that a black SUV drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival at E. 41st Avenue and Fraser shortly after 8 pm on Saturday, Vancouver time.''
The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver also released a statement, expressing their sympathies to the victims.
“As we await more information about the incident, we pray that our community remains strong and resilient imbued with the spirit of bayanihan during this difficult time,” the Consulate said.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim extended his condolence to those affected by the incident.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was ‘devastated’ to learn about the deadly incident. DMS- Yzabela Velez-White