MANILA, Philippines— A police officer in Metro Manila has urged local government units (LGUs) to issue orders prohibiting the sale of vapes.

Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, director of the National Capital Region Police Office, called on local officials to make the move to avoid the spread of electronic cigarettes and vapors.

“We are coordinating with the LGUs for them to issue ordinances,” he said in an interview with “The Chiefs” aired on Cignal TV’s One News on Wednesday night.

Sinas also ordered police chiefs in Metro Manila to coordinate the issuance of the NCRPO anti-vape orders with the respective city councils.

Last week, President Duterte directed the Philippine National Police to arrest people vaping in public places following the announcement of the country’s first vaping-related disease by the Department of Health.

Sinas said they visited 185 Metro Manila vaping shops and urged the owners not to sell vapes.

The police officer praised the Manila and Taguig city governments for taking the necessary steps to ban the sale of vapes.

Sinas justified the apprehension of people smoking in public places, saying that Duterte’s verbal order was appropriate for them.

“The pronouncement of the President is already enough for us to act immediately,” Sinas said. (Chris Figueroa/IAMIGO/CNS)