Terrorism, racism in Vancouver

Eleven people, aged five to 65, died and more than two dozens were injured when a man, described as an Asian, plowed his black Audi SUV into a Filipino crowd celebrating Lapu-Lapu Day just as the party, which drew 100,000 participants, was winding down 8:14 Saturday evening, April 26, in Vancouver, Canada.

With dozens injured, some seriously, fatalities could still rise, police said.

The Lapu-Lapu Day family event was previously treated by police as “low threat level;” hence, police visibility was not apparent. Victims – men, women, babies – were sent by ambulance to nine hospitals across metro Vancouver.

The Vancouver Police interim chief Steve Rai said they were confident the car attack on the festive crowd near East 41st and Fraser Street was not a terrorist attack. The suspect was known to the police. Rai disclosed he “does have a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health.” Video of the suspect seemed to indicate he is an Oriental man. Police have not indicated the motive for the car-ramming attack.

Five hundred four years ago, on April 27, 1521, Cebu’s tribal chief Lapu-Lapu, fat and in his late 60s, with 1,000 men vanquished an invading force of 220 fully armed men in body armor and led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, 41, on Mactan island, Cebu. Magellan’s expedition was financed by the king of Spain, then the world’s greatest naval power.

Magellan’s defeat would be equivalent today of a small Visayan tribe defeating the US Seventh Fleet using nothing more modern than bows, arrows, knives and bolos, a fact that should be known to our historians but is unhappily ignored in the Philippines. Not in Canada, it seems.

The fact that Vancouver’s Filipino community regularly celebrated the event since 2023 as a Lapu-Lapu festival shows their nationalism, sense of pride and probably Visayan origin.

And if the celebration in Vancouver was about Filipino hero Lapu-Lapu, why would another Asian be so mad about it as to plow his expensive limo into the crowd?

The suspect was apprehended by bystanders, who then called the police, acting police chief Rai said. He told reporters that the suspect was “known to police in certain circumstances.” By Monday morning, our time, the suspect was identified as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, a Vancouver resident. He was charged with eight counts of second degree murder. He appeared in court and remains in police custody. More charges could be filed as police investigation unfolds.

Rai claimed there were no known threats either against the event or the Filipino community. After consultation with the City of Vancouver and event organizers, it was decided that dedicated police officers and heavy vehicle barricades would not be deployed. The police officer remained confident the risk assessment was “sound” but that circumstances surrounded planning of the event will be reviewed.

“For terrorism, there should be some political, religious ideology behind it. There are no indicators that this individual had that,” Rai explained, lamely. It is the “darkest day in the city’s history,” the officer said.

Press reports said Liberal leader Mark Carney posted on X that he is “devastated” and offered his condolences to the “loved ones of those killed and injured.” Carney was scheduled to spend part of Sunday in British Columbia to campaign but apparently delayed his appearance in the locality and instead condoled and commiserated with victims and their families.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. condoled with families of victims. He was returning to Manila after attending the Rome funeral of Pope Francis. From one tragedy to another.

“On behalf of the Philippine Government and the Filipino people, Liza and I would like to express our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the strong and thriving Filipino community in Canada,” he said in a statement.

The President assured those affected that the government is working closely with Canadian authorities to investigate the case and to provide support to them.

“We are one with the families of the victims and the Filipino community in Vancouver during this difficult time,” he added. “On a day meant to honor the courage of Lapu-Lapu, our kababayans in Vancouver became victims of an unspeakable tragedy.”

In a statement, President Marcos said:

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

“The Filipino people stand together in mourning, in prayer and in unwavering support. We will do everything in our power to bring comfort, to bring help and to honor their memory with action.

“We have given specific instructions to our diplomats and staff in Vancouver to extend assistance to the victims and coordinate with Canadian authorities properly. I encourage everyone concerned to keep calm but remain vigilant.”

Canadian PM Mark Carney said he is “devastated and heartbroken” after what the police are calling a “car-ramming attack,”

The festival’s main act had just concluded, and crews were taking down the stage, tents and vendor stalls. They also lifted a barricade that had been blocking traffic to allow a vehicle through when a car suddenly sped into the area, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) reported. A Filipino-American rapper, apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo), 50, performed at the Vancouver Lapu-Lapu festival that turned into a massive tragedy.

CBC cited witnesses who said they heard a car rev its engine before ploughing into the area. Photos of the vehicle believed to be involved circulated online with a damaged front.

I hope Canadian authorities won’t let the suspect get away with mass murder on the ground of “insanity.” That would be the greater tragedy and simply insane. The Canadian police have indicated the suspect has mental issues.

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