Veloso, Santos face smoking raps

DAVAO CITY — The law excuses no one.

Not even Leyte Rep. Ernesto Veloso and former Interior and Local Government Secretary Luis Santos, who face charges for violating the city’s anti-smoking ordinance.

Both Veloso and Santos were caught by TV cameras smoking in a restaurant and at a police camp, respectively, prompting certain sectors to urge the police to file charges against them, especially when hundreds of ordinary residents have been charged for the same offense since the ban took effect last Nov. 9.

Acting city administrator Melchor Quitain said the decision to file charges against Veloso and Santos was agreed upon by members of the city’s Anti-Smoking Task Force. This, after the local media took note of their violations.

Veloso was caught by TV cameramen smoking last week inside a restaurant where a group of congressmen was conducting a public hearing on alleged anomalies in the Davao International Airport project.

Although Veloso apologized for his act and claimed that he enjoys immunity from arrest, Quitain said he could still be charged for the violation.

Santos, on the other hand, was caught on camera smoking during the anniversary celebration of the Southern Mindanao police command at Camp Catitipan last week.

The STAR tried to get Santos’ comment yesterday, but people close to him said he decided not to give any statement, especially after an earlier verbal tussle with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte was quoted as saying that he would have Santos eat his cigarettes if the latter would be caught smoking in prohibited places again.

City prosecutor Raul Bendigo said they were still awaiting as of yesterday afternoon the filing of the charges against Veloso and Santos.