By Bohol Island News Staff | 03:36 PM November 20, 2019
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he will ban the use of vaping devices or e-cigarettes in public, as well as arrest of those who smoke vape in public.
“I will ban it. I will ban it, the use and importation. You know why? Because it is toxic, and government has the power to issue measures to protect public health and public interest,” Duterte said in a televised news conference.
Duterte said those who will violate his order will be arrested.
“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,” he added.
Around 1 million Filipinos use e-cigarettes, according to the DOH.
It received the report on a recorded case of electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) from Central Visayas.