An individual was photographed vaping in Quezon City on Friday, May 31, 2024. (Manila Bulletin File Photo)
Two men were arrested on Thursday, Aug. 27, after a 13-year-old boy lost consciousness after they allegedly forced him to use a vape in Pasig City.
The Pasig City Police Station said the suspects, identified as “Kurt,” 23, and “Fogata,” 18, were apprehended in Barangay Manggahan by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the Family Court Branch 12 in Pasig City on Aug. 25.
Police said the suspects were accused of violating Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, with recommended of P80,000.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the mother of the victim, who claimed that the suspects forced the minor to use a vape, causing him to experience dizziness and subsequently lose consciousness.
The police did not provide further details on the minor’s condition.
Col. Hendrix B. Mangaldan, Pasig City police chief, said the arrest of the suspects highlighted the importance of sustained law enforcement efforts in safeguarding children and protecting them from all forms of abuse, exploitation, and discrimination.
“The Pasig City Police Station remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the law, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring a safe and secure community through intensified law enforcement operations and the effective implementation of warrants of arrest,” the station said.
In 2024, Dr. Maria Encarnita Blanco-Limpin of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians and the Philippine Medical Association said electronic smoking devices available in the country include Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), Electronic Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENNDS), and Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs).
Vaping, which falls under ENDS, involves inhaling and exhaling an aerosol produced by an e-cigarette or similar device.
She noted that vape products may contain chemicals that are toxic and carcinogenic.
Among the immediate health risks of vaping are airway irritation, which may cause coughing and shortness of breath.
Vaping may also contribute to cardiovascular problems and chronic respiratory diseases.
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/14/don-t-fool-yourself-expert-warns-vaping-is-not-safe-just-as-harmful-as-smoking