Early death of smokers is good for the country

Three years ago, the director-general of the World Health Organization came out with an official statement that smoking was the No. 1 global health problem. The developed countries have taken positive steps to diminish smoking in their respective countries. But cigarette manufacturers have adopted the policy of launching a major campaign to encourage smoking in third world nations. The irony is that third world countries have not taken any steps to protect themselves from this health time bomb. Phillip Morris International, the world’s leading tobacco company, just last week, held ground-breaking rites for its P16 million cigarette manufacturing plant in Laguna. Only Senator Juan Flavier voiced objection to the plan. It is very clear that as a nation, we are losing the battle against the health hazards of smoking.

It is very clear that cigarette manufacturers are depending more and more on third world countries for the survival of their dying industry. In the Czech Republic, Phillip Morris has launched an incredible campaign to get the government to encourage smoking. Their contention is that the early deaths caused by smoking is good for the Czech Republic. Why? Because when citizens succumb to an early death they save on medical expenses! They must really be in a very desperate situation to take such a stand.

To begin with, it is an admittance that the product they are selling to their customers is not only hazardous to one’s health, but has fatal results. Second, even smokers do not pick up the habit because they want to die early. Third, the statement makes them vulnerable to lawsuits by smokers who die as a result of smoking.

And that is the real solution to the smoking problem. Former Immigration Commissioner Homobono Adaza initiated a P400 million damage suit against 30 cigarette manufacturing firms in the country in behalf of persons who have died of ailments caused by cigarette-smoking. In the United States, many smokers who have died from tobacco-caused diseases have been granted fabulous amounts by the courts. The same law principle should apply here. According to statistics, 53 percent of Filipino men and 18 percent of Filipino women smoke. Obviously, they are like minors who need protection from themselves.

Cigarette manufacturers now no longer deny that they are selling a deadly product. So the new line they launched in the Czech Republic is that dying young is good for the smoker and their country. Smoking must also affect the brain. How could anyone in his right senses come out with such a statement?