Ronnie Ricketts almost arrested for smoking in public in Nueva Vizcaya

ILAGAN, Isabela ,Philippines  – Optical Media Board chief Ronnie Rickets narrowly escaped being accosted by the mayor of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya for smoking in public while leading the seizure of pirated DVDs during a raid in that town a few weeks ago.

The Provincial Board passed an ordinance early this year banning smoking in public places.

Mayor Philip Dacayo told The STAR that he was on his way to accost Ricketts, who was at that time at the stalls of DVD peddlers in the public market, but failed to catch up with the actor.

“People in town may have violated the law on anti-piracy but definitely he has violated a local ordinance here in Nueva Vizcaya,” Dacayo said, admitting that he has prepared a violation ticket for Ricketts.

Violators of the said local ordinance are meted a fine of P1,000 plus community service.

Ricketts made a quick stopover in Solano on his way to Isabela province to grace a town fiesta celebration weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) is up in arms over a photograph of come-backing actress Nora Aunor on the cover of entertainment magazine Yes! showing her with a cigarette in hand.

PMA Media Affairs head Dr. Mike Aragon said the photograph was deplorable because it was tantamount to promoting a “highly addictive” habit like smoking.

“We are really disappointed because of the message that it conveys to the public. She is a popular actress and seeing her smoking is not good, especially for the youth,” he noted in a telephone interview.

According to PMA volunteer and running priest Fr. Robert Reyes, Aunor and others in the entertainment industry should be cautious with what they do in public because they tend to influence people.

“Ms. Aunor has gone through a lot – failed relationships and others. I hope she can overcome smoking, which is also a form of addiction. She has her moral and social responsibility to other people, being a public figure,” he said.

Reyes noticed the magazine cover yesterday morning while on a brief break in a convenient store in Pampanga from a weeklong advocacy run against cigarettes.

Since last Saturday, PMA members and supporters have been sprinting from the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. The run will culminate today in the PMA office in North Ave., Quezon City.

Along the road, the group makes stopovers in various cities and municipalities to conduct information campaigns among local government and Church leaders to discuss the menace of cigarettes.

PMA had also advocated for the establishment of smoking cessation clinics in the communities to help smokers who want to quit the habit. – Sheila Crisostomo