De Lima reminds Pinoy smokers of national, local laws banning smoking in public places

The ban on smoking in public places ought not to be taken lightly as four smokers have been convicted for violating the ban in Legazpi, Albay, where, aside from the national Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, there is also a specific no smoking ordinance, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Friday.

 

Juan Joseph Monson, Mark Louie Balonzo MAceda, Antonio Bellen Baraquiel Jr and Angel Araneta, were found guilt by the Municipal Trial Court Branch 1 in Legazpi City of violating Section 5(a) of City Ordinance No. 0007-2009 or the Revised Smoke Fee Ordinance of Legazpi City.

 

The ordinance has support in Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, which prohibits smoking in the following places: centers of youth activity, elevators and stairwells, locations in which fire hazards are present, including gas stations, public and private hospitals, public conveyances and public facilities, and food preparation areas.

 

"The smoke ban was implemented to safeguard the health of the general public. So when smokers are penalized, the purpose is not to persecute them but to entice them to be health conscious," said De Lima.

 

De Lima, under RA 9211, is a member of the Inter-Agency Committee-Tobacco, which has the exclusive power and function to administer and implement the provisions of the said law.

 

In Presiding Judge Arlinda Gratil-Resari's decisions, Monson was issued a citation ticket for smoking near a carinderia along the sidewalk, "a place accessible or open to the public and for collective use."

 

Maceda, meanwhile, was caught smoking at the covered walkway of a business park, while Baraquiel was smoking at Lakandula St, and Araneta was caught smoking near the Land Transportation Office in Old Albay.  — ELR, GMA News