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BAGUIO CITY — The crackdown against illegal selling of vape products in the Summer Capital has been intensified resulting in the arrest of a 28-year-old suspect on June 5.
Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) director Col. Ruel Tagel said the suspect was arrested along Harrison Road during an entrapment for violation of City Ordinance 34-2017.
Tagel reported the suspect was in possession of close to 600 vapes and around 140 assorted vape batteries when caught by authorities.
Tagel said the entrapment operation was a result of a close coordination between BCPO and stakeholders on the strict implementation of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Baguio.
Smoking in public places and some private establishments is strictly prohibited in Baguio.
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"This operation highlights the importance of multi-sectoral coordination in enforcing local laws. The BCPO remains fully committed to supporting the city government's smoke-free campaign to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our constituents," Tagel said.
The BCPO director said similar operations will be sustained as part of the city's broader public health and safety agenda, as it calls on the public to be vigilant and report any similar illegal activities through official channels.
Earlier, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed support to the snowballing move led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to stop the sale of vape products in the country.
"We fully support DTI's decision to ban online sales of vapes as part of our commitment to protecting our children from the harmful and addictive effects of vapes and other tobacco products," Magalong said.
Magalong thanked the DTI for the move which the department said is anchored on protecting the youth and prioritizing public health.
DTI Secretary Fred Pascual signed Department Administrative Order 24-03-2024 on July 20, 2024, suspending the online sale of vapor products, vapor product devices and vapor product systems on marketplaces, effective immediately.
This was anchored on RA 11900, also known as the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, which mandates measures to prevent minors from accessing vapor products, particularly through online channels.
