DILG orders PNP to go after public smokers

In addition to criminals, the police will soon be going after smokers in public places in cooperation with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

“It’s set to be finalized within the week as I have already finished the draft for approval. The Philippine National Police (PNP) will work out the details from their end,” MMDA General Manager Corazon Jimenez said Tuesday.

Jimenez made the statement after the Department of Interior and Local Government issued a memorandum ordering the PNP to support the MMDA crackdown on smokers in public places.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino cited a July 1 memorandum issued by Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima.

The memorandum instructed the PNP to “provide assistance and support” to the MMDA in its implementation of the no-smoking ban in public places.

Tolentino said Metro police would be deputized as environmental enforcers.

“[With the approval of the agreement], the police can now issue an environmental citation or a receipt and the violator can pay the fine through the local government unit or at Metrobank,” he added.

During a news forum in Quezon City, Tolentino announced that 983 people had been apprehended for violating the ban as of Monday afternoon.

Without citing figures, Tolentino said that most of the violators were from the cities of Navotas, Caloocan and Marikina.

“This goes to show their strong teeth in enforcing the ban,” Tolentino noted.

The MMDA said the number of people apprehended by its personnel reached more than 500 while the rest were accosted by enforcers from local government units.

The MMDA on Friday implemented a ban on smoking in public areas, which is mandated under Republic Act 9211, or the 2003 Tobacco Regulation Act.

It covers public transport terminals and loading areas, shopping malls, restaurants, schools and recreational facilities, hospitals, public and private buildings and offices, areas where fire hazards are present such as gas stations and all enclosed places open to the general public.