The government has given the green light to the conduct of the "Bike for Peace and Justice" this weekend subject to certain conditions.
The upcoming cycling activity, however, will only be allowed in areas under relaxed community quarantine classification to avoid the spread of the coronavirus based on a decision by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
"The IATF likewise approved the request of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to conduct a nationwide Bike for Peace and Justice," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.
"This, however, shall be held only in areas under Modified General Community Quarantine and General Community Quarantine," he added.
The anti-insurgency task force earlier announced the conduct of the cycling activity to mark the 40th day passing of football player Kieth Absalon on July 17. The event, initiated by the task force in coordination with youth and civic groups, seeks to call for an end to violence committed against the Filipino youth.
Absalon, 21, and his cousin Nolven died when an anti-personnel mine exploded along the road in Masbate while biking on June 6. The armed communist rebels have claimed responsibility for the atrocity.
Malacañang has condemned the attack and sought the prosecution of the communist rebels for committing such international crime. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said communist rebels were “guilty” of such war crime, citing the 1997 international pact that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines in warfare.
READ: NPA's landmine attack in Masbate an 'international crime', says Palace