IATF okays ‘Bike for Justice and Peace’ in GCQ, MGCQ zones

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos

July 16, 2021, 1:16 pm

MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed the conduct of a cycling event dubbed “Bike for Justice and Peace” in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ (MGCQ).

Members of the IATF-EID, in a meeting held Thursday, approved the request of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to conduct the “Bike for Peace and Justice” drive, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement on Friday.

“This, however, shall be held only in areas under Modified General Community Quarantine and General Community Quarantine,” said Roque, who concurrently serves as IATF-EID spokesperson.

The cycling event, initiated by youth groups, including the National Youth Commission, will be held on July 17 to commemorate the 40th day of the passing of football player Kieth Absalon and his cousin, Nolven.

Absalon, 21, was cycling with a group that included his 40-year-old cousin, Nolven, when an anti-personnel mine (APM) exploded by the roadside in Masbate City on June 6.

Nolven’s 16-year-old son, Chrisbin Daniel, sustained injuries.

The New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), owned up to the Absalons’ death.

The use of APMs is a violation of the International Humanitarian Law and the 1997 Anti-Personal Mine Ban adopted by the international community.

The 1997 APM Mine Ban Convention, which takes effect in 1998, prohibits the acquisition, production, stockpiling, and use of weapons.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terror organization by the Philippines, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. (PNA)

 

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