Cops arrest 22 vape users in Metro Manila

“As of last (Monday) night, we have 22 persons arrested for vaping only in the whole NCR area and accordingly there are 51 stores were advised to close on selling their vape products so they were advised to refrain from selling items or they will be closed because our chiefs of police have coordinated with local government units,” Sinas said during a press briefing at Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 10. (File Photo: PIO NCRPO/Facebook)

MANILA — Authorities have so far arrested a total of 22 vape ban violators in public places in Metro Manila, Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting chief said on Tuesday.

“As of last (Monday) night, we have 22 persons arrested for vaping only in the whole NCR area and accordingly there are 51 stores were advised to close on selling their vape products so they were advised to refrain from selling items or they will be closed because our chiefs of police have coordinated with local government units,” Sinas said during a press briefing at Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 10.

Sinas said the NCRPO has set off simultaneous operations within the areas of responsibility of its five districts which led to the confiscation of vapes and even closure of vaping stores.

As of 9 a.m. Monday, there were 675 police operations conducted where 408 vape stores inspected out of 449 stores in Metro Manila resulted in 238 stores closed and 61 vapes confiscated.

Sinas assured that all confiscated or seized items will be accounted for and disposed of properly.

Meanwhile, Sinas said thorough coordination with local government units (LGUs) and other concerned agencies like the mall and vape store owners is underway.

“We will be implementing ‘No Vape Zone’ in our camp and I already directed all NCRPO personnel to refrain from violating the provisions of this issuance,” Sinas said as he made certain and set down explicitly that NCRPO will be the first ones to abide by the policy among its ranks.

Duterte earlier ordered law enforcers to arrest individuals who are vaping in public.

The President issued the directive following the first reported case of an illness related to vaping in the country.

On November 15, the DOH confirmed that a 16-year-old girl from Central Visayas who used e-cigarettes for six months suffered from E-cigarette or Vape-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI).

The girl, who complained of “sudden-onset severe shortness of breath,” met the case criteria of EVALI upon evaluation, based on the guidelines of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.