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Cops seize 69 vapes in Cebu crackdown

By Fe Marie Dumaboc

November 21, 2019, 9:07 pm

<p><strong>CRACKDOWN VS. VAPES</strong>. Police personnel interview a vape user who surrendered his device during the first day of the implementation of the ban on the use of e-cigarettes in public places, in Cebu City on Thursday (Nov. 21, 2019). The police recorded 69 voluntarily surrendered and confiscated vapes during the first day of the crackdown in the province of Cebu.<em> (Photo courtesy of Talisay Police Station)</em></p>

CRACKDOWN VS. VAPES. Police personnel interview a vape user who surrendered his device during the first day of the implementation of the ban on the use of e-cigarettes in public places, in Cebu City on Thursday (Nov. 21, 2019). The police recorded 69 voluntarily surrendered and confiscated vapes during the first day of the crackdown in the province of Cebu. (Photo courtesy of Talisay Police Station)

CEBU CITY – A total of 69 vapes and e-cigarettes were confiscated in the province of Cebu as part of the crackdown ordered by Philippine National Police Officer-in-Charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, following the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte to ban its use and importation.

Police personnel from different units here on Thursday began patrolling the streets to tell the public that the police would confiscate vapes and e-cigarettes used in public places.

They also visited markets and department stores informing retailers to refrain from selling vapes to the public following Duterte’s verbal order on Tuesday to ban the smoking device.

Of all the police stations under the Cebu City Police Office’s command, Police Station 6 (San Nicolas Police Station) recorded the highest confiscation in the city as it seized 11 vapes, followed by the Police Station 10 (Labangon) and Police Station 1 (Parian) with nine each.

Maj. Kenneth Paul Albotra, chief of Police Station 6, said almost all of the owners of the confiscated vapes reasoned out that they knew nothing about the ban.

He said the police informed them of the new directive to avoid misunderstanding and confrontation.

“They admit they don’t know, but we explained to them, that this is also for their own good,” Albotra said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

In Talisay City, users voluntarily submitted their e-cigarettes and vapes to the Talisay City Police Station (TCPS) after the police conducted a “recoreda” (public announcement) using a public address system in almost all parts of the city.

“The directive (is) once we receive the memo (we will implement it). It’s for their own good and the public. So they better adhere to the new directive of the President because we will implement it strictly,” Maj. Gerard Ace Pelare, chief of the Talisay Police Station, told the PNA in a separate interview.

In just six hours from the start of the information drive, the Talisay police received seven vapes – four were voluntarily surrendered while three were seized from the users.

Although no arrest was made, Pelare said owners cooperated with the authorities by voluntarily handing their vapes and e-cigarettes.

In his directive, Gamboa told “all police units nationwide to enforce the ban on (the) use of vapes, ensure that all violators will be arrested and properly recorded in the police blotters, confiscated items are accounted for and disposed of properly, and coordinate with local government units and agencies, vape stores and owners to enhance the enforcement of the ban.” (PNA)


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