No official fundraisers for Vancouver victims —PH Consulate

The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, Canada clarified on Monday that it has not initiated any fundraising efforts for the victims of the Lapu-Lapu Festival incident, amid reports of campaigns using the consulate’s official message.

In a statement, the consulate said several GoFundMe pages had been created, misusing a screenshot of its official announcement as a background image.

"The public is advised that the Philippine Consulate General has not created any fundraising efforts nor sanctioned any entities to raise funds on behalf of the victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day incident," the statement read.

"The public is also advised to exercise vigilance and prudence to avoid falling victim to unscrupulous and malicious actors seeking to exploit the tragedy that has befallen the Filipino community in British Columbia," it added.

On Saturday, a driver plowed into a crowd attending the Lapu-Lapu Festival in Vancouver, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 people.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed his condolences to the victims' families, noting that the consulate is coordinating with Canadian authorities to ensure a thorough investigation of the incident.

Canadian authorities have since taken a lone suspect into custody. — DVM, GMA Integrated News