Remains of Vancouver victims to be flown home

THE Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, Canada, has arranged the repatriation of the remains of the Filipinos killed during the Lapu-Lapu festival car ramming attack last April 26.

The incident left 11 people dead.

The BC Prosecution Service charged the suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, with eight counts of second-degree murder after he drove his car through a crowd of people.

Canadian and embassy authorities declined to indicate the nationalities of those killed. The embassy's pronouncement confirmed that some of the fatalities were Filipinos.

The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa on Tuesday said the consulate "is currently facilitating the repatriation of the remains of Filipino nationals who lost their lives."

The embassy also advised the public "to be cautious of individuals or groups falsely claiming to be [car ramming] victims or soliciting donations [for them]."

"Please ensure that any donations or assistance are directed only through verified organizations or individuals," the embassy said in an advisory posted on Facebook Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

"Assistance is being provided to the affected families. We continue to monitor the status of the injured and are working closely with Canadian authorities to ensure that justice is served," it added.