By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) has given the “greenlight” for police units across the Western Visayas to apprehend individuals caught using e-cigarettes, or vaping, in public.
PRO-6 spokesperson, Police Lt. Colonel Joem Malong, said, based on a memorandum received from Philippine National Police headquarters, they were given the directive to arrest and charge any individuals caught vaping in public areas.
The law enforcement official explained, they will use the executive order issued by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 as the basis for filing the appropriate charges.
Back in 2017, the president signed Executive Order No. 26, which provides for the establishment of a smoke-Free environment in public places and enclosed places, or the nationwide smoking ban.
Under the order, individuals can only smoke in designated areas.
Last Thursday, Bacolod City Police Office spokesperson, Police Lt. Colonel Ariel Pico recommended reforming the city’s anti-smoking task force. Despite the city police official indicating the city’s Anti-Smoking Task Force has been dissolved, it has been confirmed by Watchmen Daily Journal that the task force is still active and reportedly continues to patrol the city to apprehend individuals caught smoking in public.
However, Pico said the current ordinance prohibiting smoking in public areas needs to be amended in order to include vaping.
Under the present ordinance, those caught smoking in public places are charged P500 on their first offence, P1,000 on the second, and P2,500 or 30 days behind bars on the third.
Duterte earlier issued a verbal order to ban the use and importation of e-cigarettes after the first confirmed vaping-associated lung injury case was reported.
“They’re just killing people for money,” the president stated. “I will ban it because it is not good—it is contrary to public safety.”
He is also expected to issue a formal executive order related to the ban./DGB, WDJ