The enforcement of the ban on vaping is now among the top priorities of the National Capital Region Police Office, its acting chief said on Sunday.
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Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s ban on vaping, Metro Manila Police Chief Debold Sinas said the police would now enforce the ban.
“As per the pronouncement of our Honorable President and per directive from the National headquarters, we have placed the ban on the importation and use of [vaping devices] among our top priorities,” Sinas said in a statement.
“In the enforcement thereof, we are bound to ensure that all violators will be arrested and properly recorded in the blotter book.”
Sinas made his statement even as Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said Sunday President Duterte could not just order the arrest of those using vape in public places without an enabling law.
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He said there must be a law that would ban vape or e-cigarette smoking.
He invoked the criminal law principle of nullum crimen sine lege, meaning a person could only be arrested to face prosecution for an act that had been criminalized by law before he or she had committed it.
“Let Congress pass a law on vaping first,” Rodriguez said.
Police in Metro Manila has arrested 10 vapers in Santa Cruz and Malate in Manila and in Makati City.
Aside from local government units, Sinas said, NCRPO would also coordinate with mall and vape store owners to ensure the ban was implemented.
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Duterte earlier ordered the police to arrest vape smokers in public places as he announced a ban on its use and importation.
On Nov. 15, the Health Department reported the first case in the Philippines of lung injury related to vaping.