Police arrested three vendors for selling cigarettes without graphic health warnings during market day in Brgy. Salong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday morning, Dec. 18.
The Kabankalan City Police Station said the arrests were made at around 10:15 a.m. following a tip from a reliable informant about the roadside sale of non-compliant tobacco products.
The suspects are 46 and 34-year-old males, and a 53-year-old female who are residents of Kabankalan City.
Authorities said the vendors were caught in the act of displaying and selling cigarettes without the required graphic health warnings, in violation of Republic Act 10643 or the Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Act of 2014.
The police confiscated assorted cigarette products with an estimated market value of P29,840.
The operation was conducted by Kabankalan police personnel in coordination with the Police Intelligence Unit, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, City Health Office, and the Department of Health.
All three suspects are currently detained at the Kabankalan City Police Station.*