MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte prohibited Friday motorcycle backrides in Cebu even after its governor Gwen Garcia issued an executive order allowing it.

Garcia signed an executive order that will regulate the use of motorcycles, allowing backriders in the province, especially during the community quarantine period.

"As much as I would like to accommodate Gov. Garcia and the board members, here’s what I can say: If I begin to give an exemption to one, I will open myself to charges of anti-graft law," the President said in a public address.

The President said allowing motorcycle backrides in Cebu might prompt other cities and provinces to follow suit.

The government has prohibited motorcycle backrides as it mandates at least one meter of physical distancing in public.

"The law is hard but it is the law,” Duterte said.

"It's not my discretion. Just because I'm the President I can ignore the law of the land," he added.

• Gov. Garcia signs order allowing motorcycle backriders in Cebu

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año had said lifting of the prohibition on back-riding is a gamble since physical distancing would be difficult to implement.

"Mahirap na mag gamble na como mag-asawa, pwede sila magdikit sila sa publiko. Sa bahay, wala tayong magagawa. Pero sa publiko, kailangan ipatupad 'yung physical distancing," Año said.

(It's difficult to gamble that just because they are a couple they can already stay close to each other in public. We can't do anything about what they do indoors but we have to implement physical distancing in public.)

• 'Mahirap mag gamble': Ban on motorcycle backrides stays, even for couples - DILG