Marcos orders gov’t aid for Filipinos in deadly Vancouver incident

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered immediate assistance to Filipinos affected by a street party incident that turned deadly in Vancouver, Canada, a Palace official said on Monday, April 28, 2025. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of PCO

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered immediate assistance to Filipinos affected by a street party incident that turned deadly in Vancouver, Canada, a Palace official said on Monday.

According to an Agence France-Presse report dated April 27, a driver plowed into a crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Block Party on Saturday (Canadian time). Eleven people were confirmed dead and their identities have yet to be disclosed.

READ: Fatal Vancouver street incident: PH Consulate offers sympathies

At a briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was asked what specific directives Marcos had given for the Filipino victims.

“Dahil ito po ay kapwa Pilipino, minadali po agad na matulungan, ibigay ang maaaring maitulong, lahat ng connection para sa mga Pilipino na nadamay po sa trahedya sa Vancouver,” she responded.

(Because this involves fellow Filipinos, he promptly ordered to provide help, provide all necessary assistance, and all connections for Filipinos affected by the tragedy in Vancouver.)

“Ang consulate natin nakapag-establish na rin po ng communication sa ilang mga biktima na nasugatan at nakikipagcoordinate pa rin po ang Philippine consulate general with the Vancouver police department regarding sa information pa po ng ibang biktima at updates ng pag-iimbestiga,” Castro also said.

(Our consulate has also established communication with several victims who were injured, and the Philippine consulate general is still coordinating with the Vancouver police department regarding information on other victims and updates on the investigation.)

READ: Marcos ‘shattered’ upon hearing about Vancouver fatal incident

In a statement on Sunday evening, Marcos said he is “completely shattered” by the incident and said that the Philippine government stands with the families of the victims and the Filipino community in Vancouver during this difficult time.

“As your President and as a father, I share in your grief and anguish. The lives lost will not be forgotten,” he said.

“We will do everything in our power to bring comfort, to bring help, and to honor their memory with action,” Marcos also said.