TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - Young bikers were the bulk of participants in the “Bike for Peace and Justice” in the Cagayan Valley Region.

The event was held simultaneously nationwide on Saturday and was led by various civil society organizations (CSOs) calling for justice for all victims of atrocities perpetrated by the Communist Terrorist Groups in the region, including the recent brutal killing of the Absalon cousins.

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba said that he fully supports the thrust of the present administration to end local communist armed conflict in order to attain lasting peace and development in the province, which would enable economic progress and countryside development.

He also narrated that his brother, who was a former politician, was also a victim of the unlawful and merciless killing tactics of the New Peoples Army.

“We need to stop these killings and we also need to put an end to the deceiving tactics of the rebels in recruiting innocent individuals to join their forces against the government,” Mamba said.

On her part, Marites Taccad of the Rotary Club of Tuguegarao Citadel expressed the full support of their organization to the objectives of Executive Order No. 70 or the institutionalization of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

“There is progress and development if there is peace and security in an area,” she said.

Other CSOs that participated include the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rotaract Club of Tuguegarao Citadel, Rotaract Club of Tuguegarao, and the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terrorismo, which have joined forces to spearhead the event.

Due to the restrictions observed amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers only targeted 50 bikers but the participants exceeded to over 60 heads.

There were also participants from different provinces and cities around the region. (JKC/OTB/PIA Cagayan)