On the 40th day of the Absalon cousins' death on a roadside explosion in Masbate City last June 07, 2021, about 300 bike enthusiasts in the Province of Aurora, along with members and officers from the AFP, PNP, People’s Organizations and Central Aurora LGUs joined the nationwide "Bike for Peace and Justice Campaign" facilitated by the DILG, on Saturday, July 17, 2021.
The event was highlighted by the signing of the peace covenant by the participants, who then biked through the central municipalities of Baler, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, and San Luis.
Social Distancing officers were deployed in the different stations to ensure the implementatation of the maximum health protocols of the participating individuals.
“The group strongly urges justice for all victims of human rights violations and atrocities, as well as all victims of crimes against humanity committed in the name of the International Humanitarian Law. They vow that the CTG will no longer kill people, that there will be no more CPP-NPA-NDF bloodshed, and that there will be no more communist terrorist violence. NPA is no longer an option. I rode my bike for peace and justice.”, says LTC Reandrew Rubio, Battalion Commander of the 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion, 7th Infantry "Kaugnay" Division Philippine Army.
Rubio praised Aurora locals for exposing all terrorist groups' atrocities in the country and expressed his complete support for their desire for local peace dialogues in rebel-affected areas.
The participants of the event include Aurora Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, Sentrong Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Bayan, people’s organizations, and some sectoral groups.
Other participants were representatives from the Provincial Government of Aurora, Local Government Units, Baler Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the support staff from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
