Tobacco firm denies hand in petition filed by arrested smokers
A tobacco company on Friday denied that it was behind the filing of a petition which enjoined the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from enforcing its antismoking campaign in public areas in Metro Manila.
Tobacco giant Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC) distanced itself from Anthony Clemente and Vrianne Lamson, the two watchmen who filed the petition in a Mandaluyong regional trial court. Both were fined P500 each by the MMDA for smoking on a sidewalk in Cubao, Quezon City, last month.
“PMFTC has no relationship with the two complainants … who were apprehended and fined by the MMDA for allegedly violating the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 when smoking in open spaces,” the company said in a statement sent to the Inquirer. “[They] are not and have never been employees of the company.”
It added that the firm is not a party to the case and “has nothing whatsoever to do with the filing of the case.” PMFTC also denied paying the P100,000 bond required by the court.
On Aug. 15, Mandaluyong RTC Branch 213 Judge Carlos Valenzuela issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) based on the petition filed by Clemente and Lamson.
The TRO enjoined the MMDA against enforcing the no-smoking campaign in open areas not covered by the definition of public places under RA 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 for 20 days.
On Tuesday, Clemente reportedly admitted in a television interview that he filed the case because he was promised money by a tobacco firm.
The following day, he executed an affidavit denying the news report.
His lawyer, Luis de la Paz, dismissed as “unreliable” the news report that his client was offered money to file the petition. He said that Clemente was misquoted because he was rattled and confused by the TV reporter’s question.
De la Paz also denied the claim made by HealthJustice, a group advocating tobacco control, that Gonzales Batiller David Leabres Reyes & Associates, the law firm he works for—was representing Philip Morris.
But in an interview Thursday, he admitted that his law firm did some consultancy work for the tobacco company from 2001 to 2004.
