MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) began its nationwide crackdown on the use of electronic cigarettes – popularly known as vape – in public, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to ban such devices over public health issues.
PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa on Wednesday ordered all police units to arrest persons vaping in public.
“In compliance with the order of the President, all police units nationwide are directed to enforce the ban on use of vapes, ensure that all violators will be arrested and properly recorded in the police blotters,” Gamboa said.
“Confiscated items are accounted for and disposed of properly, and coordinate with local government units and agencies, vape stores and owners to enhance the enforcement of the ban,” he added.
President Duterte, in a press conference at the Malacañang on Tuesday evening, said he is ordering the total ban on e-cigarettes and vape products in the country.
“I will ban it. I will ban the use and importation. You know why? Because it is toxic and the government has the power to issue measures to protect public health and public interest,” Duterte said.
“You know ang cigarettes, the confirmed chemical there that is not good for humans is nicotine. It is habit-forming. It is toxic and it kills people,” the Chief Executive added.
“Itong vaping, sabi nila, electronic. Don’t give me that shit, better stop it because I will order your arrest if you do it in a room. I am now ordering the law enforcing agencies to arrest anybody vaping in public, which is like smoking. You cannot do it inside the room. That’s full of shit. You contaminate people,” the President said.
The Department of Health last week said it received the report on a recorded case of electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury from Central Visayas.
The patient is a 16-year-old girl who has been using e-cigarettes for 6 months, it added. The health department said she was into “dual use” “concurrently” smoking regular cigarettes.
The DOH said the girl was admitted to hospital on Oct. 21 complaining of “sudden-onset severe shortness of breath.”
The DOH earlier called for an outright ban on vaping as it warned Filipinos that e-cigarettes are not a proven nicotine replacement therapy and can cause lung illness./PN
