THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will add muscle to the government crackdown against violators of Republic Act 11900 or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act amid growing concerns on teenage use of vapes.

PNP spokesperson, Colonel Jean S. Fajardo said that since May last year, police have accosted 121,579 violators of Executive Order No. 26 which banned smoking in public and provided for the establishment of smoke-free environments in public and enclosed places.

Out of the total number of violators, 6, 714 were minors who were immediately released from police custody.

RA 11900 regulates nearly all aspects of e-cigarettes, including health warnings; changing the minimum age from 21 to 18 years; allowing flavors and internet sales; and banning usage in specified public places.

Fajardo said minors being accosted for the offense are just reprimanded by the police while adult offenders are charged in court.

Since May 2023, she said that 406 have been apprehended for violation of RA 11900, of which 147 turned out to be minors.

The PNP spokesperson said those statistics are ‘matters of concern’ to the police force since it involves thousands of minors patronizing e-cigarettes.

However, she said that the best persons to lecture on the RA 11900 are those from the Department of Health since this is a health concern.

Fajardo said the problem actually prompted PNP chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. to commit the help of the police force to the Department of Health.

She said that they particularly target establishments violating RA 11900 and EO 26 and those who will be found to be ignoring the law will become subject of recommendation for revocation of their business permits.

In line with the provisions of RA 11900, the legal age for purchasing vape products is stipulated at 18 years old and above, with a strict ban on vape sales within a 100-meter radius of educational institutions, playgrounds and other areas frequented by minors.

Acorda, during his meeting with DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, instructed PNP Director for Operations, Major Gen. Ronald O. Lee to develop appropriate operational guidelines with a focus on apprehending vape sellers.

He also instructed the Directorate for Police Community Relations to launch an awareness campaign to educate the public, particularly the youth, about the harmful effects of vaping.

The two officials recently met to address growing serious concerns regarding an increase in the number of youth using e-cigarettes and vapes in the country.

Their discussions centered on the urgent threat posed by the widespread use of these products to the physical health and overall well-being of the nation’s youth.