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.
“Better stop it because I will order your arrest if you do it in a room. I am now ordering the law-enforcement agencies to arrest anybody vaping in public. That is like smoking,” Duterte added.
“If you include vape in that EO, it’s actually an expansion of the definition of smoking, kaya sabi pwede i-implement agad because it’s an expansion of the definition of smoking,” said Gamboa.
No imprisonment yet for irresponsible vapers- PNP
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III believes the vape cannot be banned without law.
As a result, Sen. Francis Tolentino has already filed in Senate Bill 1183 prohibiting the use, sale, manufacture, distribution, trade, importation, and marketing of all types of electronic cigarettes, including controversial vape.
Last week, the first case of vape-related illness in the Philippines was recorded by the DOH.
The DOH received a report that there was an electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) from Central Visayas.