President Benigno Aquino III has never violated any rules on smoking which may be grounds for impeachment, a Palace spokesman said Tuesday.
“The President is following all of the laws of the land regarding this matter. Batid naman natin na kailanman hindi siya lumalabag sa mga batas hinggil diyan,” Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters during an ambush interview.
He issued the statement after Civil Service Commission Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo was quoted as saying that the President is violating the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which disallows smoking in government premises.
He added that the only way to discipline Aquino was to file an impeachment case against him.
Coloma, however, said Aquino has never violated this.
“Sa lahat ng pagkakataon na nakasama ko siya sa pagpupulong o anumang function ay hindi ko siya nakitang nagsigarilyo,” he said.
The Palace official added that the President has always been supportive of measures seeking to reduce the hazards of smoking, like the Sin Tax Reform Law. —KG, GMA News
