Police ban vaping, vape possession in all SEA Games venues
MANILA, Philippines – Vaping and possession of vape or e-cigarettes will be banned in all venues of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games following the verbal order of President Rodrigo Duterte to ban its importation and use in public, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting director Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said on Friday.
“Lahat ng venue bawal ‘yung vape (Vape is not allowed in all venues),” Sinas said in a press briefing.
Anyone who will be caught using vape in the venues will be arrested, recorded in police blotter, and then released afterward, according to Sinas. Their vape or e-cigarettes will also be confiscated.
Sinas, however, clarified that mere possession of vape is not illegal. He said those merely carrying vape will only be barred from entering the SEA Games venues
He suggested that vapers instead leave their e-cigarettes in their cars or at home before going to the venue.
The directive also applies to foreign spectators and participants, according to Sinas.
Sinas said he has yet to receive a report on designated smoking areas in the 39 SEA Games venues across Metro Manila. Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and La Union province.
The SEA Games, composed of 530 events of 56 sports, will start on November 30 and will end on December 11. An estimated 9,840 participants are expected to join the biennial games.
The crackdown against vaping in public started after the order of President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, banning the importation of e-cigarettes and its use in public areas.
Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police, is referring to this verbal order of the President and the Executive Order No. 26 issued in 2017 that banned smoking in public areas, in directing arrests on violators. This EO, however, does not categorically include vaping.
A new EO from Malacañang specifically against using vape in public is needed for violators to be “punished,” Gamboa earlier said.
Pending this new EO, offenders will only be arrested and their offense recorded in the police blotter, but they will also be released afterward since there is no case that can be filed against them.
The directive also applies to foreign spectators and participants, according to Sinas.
Sinas said he has yet to receive a report on designated smoking areas in the 39 SEA Games venues across Metro Manila. Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and La Union province.
The SEA Games, composed of 530 events of 56 sports, will start on November 30 and will end on December 11. An estimated 9,840 participants are expected to join the biennial games.
