The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) has arrested eight vape ban violators in the region during three-day operations.
Lt. Col. Joem Malong, PRO 6 spokesperson, said the regional office has heeded the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte as Western Visayas cops conducted 371 operations to arrest those who use vapes and e-cigarettes in public places.
From Nov. 21 to 23, Malong said three vape ban violators were arrested in Aklan, one in Antique, and four from this city.
“Our police were mobilized and they went to vape shops and public places to be on guard against personalities who use vapes and e-cigarettes in public places,” she said, adding the police were able to visit 99 vape stores in three days.
She said 45 of the 99 vape stores are in Bacolod City; 12 each in Antique province and this city; nine in Negros Occidental; eight each in Aklan and Iloilo province; and five in Capiz province.
The arrested personalities underwent a normal booking process and were eventually released.
Malong said Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, PRO 6 regional director, upon consultation with the Regional Legal Service Division, has clarified the police do not have to confiscate vape devices of the arrested personalities.
“It is not necessary for us to confiscate the items because the previous instruction during our command conference was for them (violators) to be booked and released afterwards,” Malong said.
Despite the instruction, the Iloilo City Police Office has confiscated three vape devices from personalities caught at the Airport village in this city’s Mandurriao district on November 23.
Malong said the police are instructed to return to the owners the seized items.
She said the regional office is still awaiting further guidelines on the implementation of the ban.
The latest memorandum the PRO 6 received from the Philippine National Police memorandum was dated November 20.
It directs police to “ensure that violators will be arrested and charged” and “coordinate with appropriate agencies including vape store owner/malls to enhance the enforcement” of the President’s directive,(By Gail Momblan)
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