Smoking and vape use are strictly banned at all venues for the 30th SEA games 2019.
This is after President Rodrigo Duterte gave a verbal order to ban the use of vape in public places.
According to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting director Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, vape users, will be apprehended at SEA Games venues and will be put in the blotter.
Vape or e-cigarettes will be confiscated.
Meanwhile, carrying a vape is not illegal.
The directive is also applicable to foreign participants in the SEA Games, according to Sinas.
Cigarette, vape use banned in all SEA games 2019 venues: no imprisonment yet for irresponsible vapers
PNP said no imprisonment will be imposed and clarified that they would just give a warning to irresponsible vapers for now.
PNP Officer-in-Charge P / Lt. Colonel Archie Gamboa said that until President Rodrigo Duterte issued an Executive Order, the law enforcers will not detain vape users who will smoke in public areas.
Currently, Gamboa said the Executive Order No. 26 that prohibits smoking in public places is their sole basis for apprehending vapers.
Gamboa explained that without a new EO against the use of vape and electronic cigarettes, the police could have vape users arrested but not punished.
“That’s why ang sabi ko sa kanila (police operatives) arrest, put them on the blotter, and then release them,” Gamboa said.
President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Tuesday that he would ban the use and importation of vape or e-cigarettes in public.
Duterte also said law enforcers would arrest anyone who would use vape or e-cigarettes in public.