A Talisay resident turns over his e-cigarette to Police Major Gerard Ace Pelare, Talisay City Police Office chief, on November 20. | Contributed photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Four Vape or e-cigarette users in Talisay City have started turning over their e-cigarettes to police while one other was confiscated from a minor hours after President Rodrigo Duterte announced the banning of their use.
Read more: Duterte bans use, importation of e-cigarettes
As of 5:40 p.m. today, November 20, Police Major Gerard Ace Pelare, Talisay City Police chief, said that four vapes or e-cigarettes were surrendered by Talisay City residents while another one was confiscated from a minor, who was allegedly using it.
These are two of the e-cigarettes turned over to the Talisay City Police from their users. | Contributed photo
Pelare said two vape users turned over their e-cigarettes to him, while two others handed their vapes to police officers patrolling the Barangays Bulacao and Pooc.
Read more: Police in Central Visayas to start apprehending persons using e-cigarettes in public
Pelare said that his officers were patrolling their areas to confiscate e-cigarettes used in public areas and warn the persons about the President’s order banning its use.
“Stop Vaping as it is made illegal now by a presidential directive and it is severely hazardous to your health,” Pelare advises vape users.
He, however, said that they could only confiscate the vapes or e-cigarettes from users and warn them about the ban on vapes.
He said they could also not fine the violators because there were no implementing rules and guidelines yet on the ban of the e-cigarettes. /dbs