President Rodrigo Duterte maintained there is a law banning the use of vape, but failed to cite it after being asked a number of times as he ranted about the harmful effects of nicotine during an interview on CNN Philippines.
According to Duterte, as vape products were being banned "all over the world" for its harmful effects, the government had a right to "come out with measures to protect public interest."
"In Australia, in Singapore, it's considered poison. So I have the right to say, 'wag mo ipakita yan, do not sell it, because I have not yet given you - that's government saying it, not me - wag mo ipagbili yan, kasi hindi pa dumaan ng FDA yan," Duterte said.
"I cannot wait for Congress because ang Congress knows that it is nicotine. Congress knows that vaping cannot be used in public, and Congress should know that contraband should not be allowed to be sold because when you use it with other chemicals and nicotine, it produces another chemical of which government does not know," he added.
Although the president acknowledged the harmful effects of cigarettes, he argued that they have already existed for a long time and was not a new product like vaping.
"Ang cigarette dumaan na yan noon pa. This new one, is another form of cigarette. You must be kidding. Don't be an idiot to say that," Duterte said.
He also shared his experience with smoking and expressed that he did not want to be remembered as a president who did not address health concerns.
"I suffered the consequences of smoking nicotine. Itong mga to, mga bata, itong mga chemicals na sinusupsop niyo doon sa baga ninyo, baga is your lung, it grinds slowly, but it grinds exceedingly small," the president said.
"And I will not- I will not be remembered- I will not allow to be remembered as a president who did nothing to help people in the health issues," he added.
Duterte last week announced a ban on the importation and use of vape products. He also ordered the arrest of those who smoked vape in public. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News
