VP Sara Duterte condemns attack at Filipino festival in Vancouver

Vice President Sara Duterte condemned Monday the attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day Filipino festival in Vancouver, Canada over the weekend which left at least 11 people dead.

“I condemn this deliberate assault in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification for targeting peaceful festivalgoers, and those responsible must be held fully accountable under Canadian law,” Duterte said in a statement.

The Vice President also conveyed her condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.

“My thoughts are with every kababayan affected by an act of violence that has no place in our shared humanity,” she added.

Duterte thanked the Canadian government and the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver for coordinating with the proper authorities to ensure assistance and guidance to Filipinos in Canada.

According to a Reuters report, 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.

The Department of Migrant Workers earlier in the day said it is ready to provide all the necessary assistance and support to the victims of the incident in line with its mandate to ensure the safety and wellness of Overseas Filipino Workers. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA Integrated News