Police start crackdown vs vape stores that lack permits

MANILA, Philippines — After announcing that it will be arresting vapers in public places pursuant to the order of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has also started its crackdown on vape stores that lack business permits.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting director Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, PNP officer-in-charge, issued a memorandum on Thursday directing the police to coordinate with stores selling e-cigarettes to check if they have the necessary documents.

“He stated na magcoordinate kami sa mga stores na nagbebenta ng vape at (that we should coordinate with stores selling vape and) check if they have permits if they are authorized. If not, [we will] advise them to refrain from selling or they will be closed,” he said in a press briefing at the Kamuning Police Station in Quezon City on Friday.

He added Gamboa also ordered the police to coordinate with local chief executives in enforcing this directive.

“We implement it and we have directed all the different district directors to implement the directive of the OIC, and we will check if in the succeeding days kung meron na kaming maaresto or wala (if we will be able to arrest someone),” said Sinas.

Aside from this, Sinas said Gamboa also ordered the police to coordinate with city and municipal councils for the possible issuance of ordinances that will prohibit vaping in public places.

The crackdown against vaping in public came after the order of Duterte on Tuesday banning the importation of e-cigarettes and its use in public.

Police are referring to this verbal order of the President and the Executive Order No. 26 issued in 2017 that banned smoking in public areas. 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 explained.

Pending this new EO, violators 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. Their e-cigarette will also be confiscated by the police.

Sinas likewise explained that mere possession of vape is not illegal.

Edited by MUF