MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver released an advisory warning the public against fundraising campaigns claiming to raise funds on behalf of victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day incident on 27 April.
According to the advisory, it has come to the Consulate’s attention that certain individuals have set up GoFundMe pages claiming to raise funds to support the victims of the tragic vehicle ramming incident, killing 11 individuals and injuring approximately two dozen people, some critically, as reported by Vancouver police.
“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 statement stated.
“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,” the Consulate said.
The public is also advised to exercise vigilance and prudence to avoid being victimized by unscrupulous and malicious actors attempting to exploit this tragedy that has befallen the Filipino Community in British Columbia, the statement added.
Meanwhile, Canadian prosecutors have already charged a 30-year old Vancouver resident with murder for killing at least 11 people aged between five and 65 and injuring dozens after he rammed an SUV through a crowd at a Filipino community festival on Sunday, Reuters reported.
The man was identified by authorities as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, who 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 Sunday press conference.
On Monday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo expressed his deepest condolences to the victims and families affected by the incident, and assured them that the Philippine Embassy in Canada is closely monitoring the situation.
“I just wanted to say how we deeply grieve with those affected, the victims of that really horrific act. Our embassy and our Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, the Embassy in Canada, are closely following the situation,” Manalo told reporters during an ambush interview in Makati City.
“In fact, they’re on top of the situation. I think our Ambassador in Canada [is] going or [is] already in Vancouver and attending to the needs of those affected. We wish to grieve and condole with those victims and the family of the victims of yesterday’s really horrific attack,” he added.
In an earlier statement, the DFA said that it is ready to extend assistance to the affected families and to cooperate with Canadian authorities regarding 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.
In its advisory, the Consulate posted the hotline numbers for Filipino Nationals who were affected by the incident and who may need assistance.
The hotline numbers are as follows:
Assistance-to-Nationals Hotline: +1 604 6535858
Migrant Workers’ Office Hotline: +1 604 767 3354
Vancouver Police Department Victim Support: +1 800 563 0808
“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,” the DFA added.
(With reports from Reuters: Chris Helgren in Vancouver and Allison Lampert in Montreal; additional reporting by David Ljunggren, Devika Nair, Promit Mukherjee, Karen Lema, Harshita Meenaktshi; Writing by Julia Harte and David Morgan; Editing by Mary Milliken, Frank McGurty, Sandra Maler and Michael Perry)
