http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/12/world/europe/philippines-leader-rodrigo-duterte-wants-to-ban-public-smoking.html 2016-10-11 22:50:18 Philippines’ Leader, Rodrigo Duterte, Wants to Ban Public Smoking Mr. Duterte, who has been targeting dealers and users in an aggressive campaign against illegal drugs, is now turning his attention to tobacco. === MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte of the Paulyn Ubial, the health secretary in Mr. Duterte’s cabinet, said Tuesday that she hoped that the president would sign an executive order before the end of October that would ban smoking in public. Her department is pushing for the ban to start before a law requiring graphic health warnings on tobacco products takes full effect on Nov. 4. Ms. Ubial said Mr. Duterte wanted a 100 percent smoke-free environment in public places, as in the southern city of Davao, where he was formerly mayor. The measure would restrict smoking to designated outdoor areas away from the public, and would include e-cigarettes as well as traditional cigarettes, cigars and pipes. Ms. Ubial said there was no reason for smokers and tobacco companies to oppose the ban. “We’re not stopping them from smoking,” she said. “We are just telling them not to smoke around nonsmokers.” Ms. Ubial said the smoking ban was successful in Davao because the city government strictly enforced it with a special task force rather than adding it to the workload of the police. Mr. Duterte took office on June 30 promising to expand to the whole country the policies he followed in Davao, including his Many in the Philippines have wondered whether Mr. Duterte would also expand a Davao ban on powerful firecrackers during New Year’s Eve revelry. Such a ban would be a major change for a violent celebratory tradition that causes numerous deaths and injuries each year.