‘More than symbolic gestures’: Filipino BC says gov’t needs to support Lapu-Lapu Day victims

A local community group is calling on the federal, provincial and municipal governments to commit to funding support services for victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day attack.

In an open letter Thursday, Filipino BC says no level of government has yet committed to dedicated funding to aid those directly affected by the tragedy since April 26, when a driver of an SUV plowed through a crowded Filipino street festival, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more.

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“Many victims and families continue to struggle due to the bureaucratic complexity of programs such as ICBC, Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP), and EI. These systems are often daunting and difficult to navigate, leaving individuals under-resourced and in some cases not even receiving their full entitlement,” the letter explained.

Filipino BC Executive Director Kristina Corpin-Moser says the affected population is not necessarily likely to be familiar with accessing government services to begin with.

“We find that there’s language barriers to accessing these services. Perhaps also their socio-economic circumstances beforehand mean these benefits aren’t that beneficial to them. But in addition to that, when you’re grieving, when you’re traumatized, your capacity to even navigate these systems — which we know from before April 26 — are difficult to navigate,” Corpin-Moser told CityNews.

In the letter, she describes the reality as “heartbreaking.”

“Families are in desperate situations—struggling to pay rent, put food on the table, and access culturally appropriate mental health supports. While community-driven efforts like the United Way BC Kapwa Strong Fund have provided critical relief and supported culturally relevant programs, governments have an obligation to step up.”

She says politicians’ expressions of sympathy only offer so much, and Filipino BC has been forced to become a “primary provider” for people who can’t navigate the system.

“If politicians can show up for photo opportunities, light candles, and offer words of condolence, then they also have a moral obligation to follow through with real action. Communities deserve more than symbolic gestures. They deserve sustained, tangible support,” said Corpin-Moser.

The group says the City of Vancouver has not followed through on a June resolution to “prioritize long-term recovery support” for the victims or even consult with Filipino BC regarding its on-the-ground work.

Filipino BC says the tragedy also magnified weaknesses with the Vancouver Police Department’s Victim Services Unit.

Corpin-Moser says the group operates as a lean care team, dealing with dozens of cases each.

“Many of our staff do the job of three people instead of one. In an ideal world, we’d be more robustly funded so that we could provide more support to people.”

City refers to province for long-term recovery programs

Meanwhile, Vancouver City Hall pushes the responsibility for longer-term recovery, health and financial support for victims, and ongoing medical and insurance costs to “senior levels of government and associated organizations,” it said in a statement to 1130 NewsRadio.

It refers to the provincial government for any long-term recovery programs.

The City of Vancouver sees its role more in creating opportunities through city services and programs, such as grants.

It says it wants to establish “City-sanctioned memorials” and organize “community gatherings and events.”

It ensures to keep maintaining the temporary memorial at Mountain View Cemetery as well as to connect affected families and communities with information regarding available supports.

The province, on the other hand, says it “takes all levels of government to support people impacted by devastating events like this one.”

Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, says in a statement to 1130 NewsRadio that there are multiple services at the victims’ availability, including through ICBC, Crime Victim Assistance Program, and VictimLinkBC.

“We will continue to work with Filipino BC, the City of Vancouver, and the VPD to ensure provincial services are getting to the people who need them,” she said.

The province established a $50,000 grant through the Civil Forfeiture Office for Filipino BC, as well as a one-time CFO grant of $10,000 to the BC Bereavement Helpline Society to support traumatic loss facilitators.

In early September, a B.C. judge ruled that the suspect in the attack, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was mentally fit to stand trial. He faces 11 counts of second-degree murder and 31 counts of attempted murder.

Lo will be detained in a hospital until his trial.

—With files from Cecilia Hua