Senators on Sunday, April 27 condemned the attack committed against Filipinos holding a cultural celebration in Vancouver, Canada.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged the Philippine Consulate and other embassy officials in Vancouver and Canada to extend all assistance possible to the Filipino victims and their families.

“I express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and loved ones of the victims of this dastardly attack on Filipinos holding a peaceful street festival in Vancouver, Canada to celebrate Lapu-lapu Day,” Escudero said in a statement.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this shocking and horrific incident, whose perpetrator and possible accomplices should be brought to justice and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” the Senate leader said.

Escudero condemned the attack saying “there is no place in this world for such horrible acts of violence.”

“And I trust that the Canadian law enforcement agencies will leave no stone unturned to ensure that justice is served,” he said.

“I urge our Philippine Consulate and other Embassy officials in Vancouver and Canada to extend all assistance possible to Filipino victims and their families and ensure that they are well taken cared of and for steps to be undertaken to prevent this from happening again in the future,” he stressed.

Canadian police arrested the 30-year old local man at the scene where Filipinos attending the street festival in the western city of Vancouver is held.

Sen. Grace Poe said such act is “condemnable and must be investigated at once.”

“We offer our sympathies to the victims and their families as we seek justice for them. We call on the Philippine embassy to immediately attend to the needs of the victims, especially those needing urgent medical attention,” Poe said.

“Filipinos who live and thrive in foreign countries deserve care and protection being members of the communities that have become their homes, too,” she pointed out.

Sen. Joel Villanueva also expressed his disappointment on the incident and offered his condolences.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the families of the victims affected by the horrific incident at the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver, Canada. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time,” Villanueva said.

“What was meant to be a joyful celebration for our Filipino community in Canada has tragically turned into an event marked by loss and injury among our kababayans,” he lamented.

Villanueva also urged the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver, as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), to extend all possible assistance to those affected and to coordinate closely with Canadian authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.