MANILA, Philippine— Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III believes that vaping may not be prohibited in the country unless there is a law that would declare it illegal.
Sotto gave this opinion on Thursday when sought for comment on President Rodrigo Duterte’s order banning the use and importation of e-cigarettes in the country
“I’m still looking at how it’s possible,” Sotto said in a text message.
“In the absence of a law, we cannot just prevent people from using it unless we declare it illegal,” he said.
In a separate text message though, Sotto said the President may ban the importation through an executive order.
“But private use, unless, it is declared illegal by law, can be quite a legal debate,” he added.
Sotto further explained that an ordinance may be needed to ban vaping in a specific, or a law if the ban would be imposed nationwide.
“Right now it is debatable if an Executive Order will suffice. Except that it’s annoying, a clear public health harm has yet to be proven,” he said in another statement.
Duterte ordered the ban on vaping last Tuesday.
“Vaping is also dangerous, I am banning it. If you are smoking now, you will be arrested,” he said.
“I will order law enactment to arrest anybody vaping in public,” the President added.