World leaders react to fatal Lapu-lapu festival tragedy

Vancouver police secure the scene after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday April 26, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

MANILA, Philippines — World leaders over the weekend expressed their condolences to the Filipino community in Canada reeling from the Vancouver City incident which killed 11 people.

A 30-year-old driver identified as Kai-Ji Adam Lo rammed his black Audi SUV against a crowd of festival goers in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighborhood on Sunday.

The Filipino community had gathered there for Lapu-lapu Festival, which commemorates a 16th century anticolonial chief who killed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

“My heart goes out to the loved ones of all the victims of the tragic attack at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver,” Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

“I join all Canadians in standing with the Filipino community at this difficult time,” Trudeau added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called the tragedy “heartbreaking.”

“On this sad day, Ukrainians deeply share the pain of Canadians, Vancouver residents, and the Canadian Filipino community,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Our condolences to the victims’ families, and we wish the injured a speedy recovery.”

“Stay strong, our friends in Canada and the Philippines,” he added.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on X: “Following the tragedy in Vancouver, I extend our solidarity to Canadians and the Filipino community. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.”

Previously, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he was “completely shattered” upon hearing about the incident.

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

“I am completely shattered to hear about the terrible incident during a Lapu Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver, BC, Canada,” he said.