8/4/2019 Tobacco Companies in Philippines Play Dirty Legal Game

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Tobacco companies in Philippines play dirty legal gameBy James Cordova Aug 19, 2011 7:40AM UTC This is how dirty tobacco companies in the Philippines have become. They have gone to the

extent of lying, conniving and gaming the country’s judicial system just to have their way. 

The Philippine government, particularly the local government units and such agencies like

the Metro Manila Development Authority (MDDA), has been launching an anti-smoking

campaign around the country. This is not to ban cigarettes altogether but just to designate

areas where smokers can smoke.

Some have complained that the smoking regulations impinges on their right to smoke. In

the meantime, the MMDA has arrested or fined those they have apprehended ever since the

campaign began earlier this year.

Then suddenly, a judge issues a restraining order against the MMDA, stopping it from

implementing its “Smoke-Free Campaign.” 

MMDA and local officials during the launching of the agency's anti-smoking campaign. (Photo from

www.mmda.gov.ph)

It turns out that one of those who complained in court against the MMDA used to work as

security guard for a tobacco company and that, according to him, the company paid for

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his P100,000 bail bond., which he would never be able to afford from his salary as a

security guard.

 Apparently, the plan was to have somebody file a case against the tobacco regulation in

court, hoping that would set off a chain of events that could end up with the court decidingagainst the MMDA, which is exactly what happened. In short, the case fabricated by the

tobacco company.

“The admission of the complainant that the case was fabricated should appall Filipinos to no

end. The tobacco industry is obviously pulling out all stops to block laudable public health

measures like the MMDA’s enforcement campaign,” states Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, a former

health secretary and an anti- tobacco advocate.

“Cases like these show how the tobacco industry belittles the competence of medical

authorities in guarding the health of our citizens. In planting a witness against MMDA, they 

undermine the authority of the government to take care of its people,” Galvez-Tan said in a

statement. “We, as medical professionals, know that efforts such as the smoking ban are

necessary as there are no safe levels of exposure to second hand smoke.” 

“There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests

and public health policy interests. The falsehood of the petition against MMDA is an abuse

of the judicial system. It only further validates the need for the government to be protected

from the tobacco industry,” says Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, projectdDirector of of the Southeast

 Asia Tobacco Control Alliance.

In a statement, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino decried the court order stopping his

agency.

“We are saddened by this turn of events but this will not stop us from pursuing more health-

related advocacies

pursuant to Republic Act No. 7924 which mandates us to promote public health, safety and

sanitation, urban protection and pollution control,” he said in a statement. “This is just a

temporary setback. We will fight this all the way to protect the health of our citizens.” 

The tobacco industry earlier challenged efforts by the government to implement picture

 warnings on tobacco packaging. They have also fought, unsuccessfully, the ban on tobacco

advertising in the mass media.

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 According to tobacco control groups and the health department, 240 Filipinos die every day 

 because of cigarette addiction and exposure to second-hand smoke and that tobacco-related

illnesses are putting pressure on an already inadequate public health care system.