Ricketts denies smoking in public

MANILA, Philippines - Optical Media Board chairman Ronnie Ricketts cried foul yesterday over a report alleging that he was almost arrested for smoking in a public place in Nueva Vizcaya a few weeks ago.

Ricketts said the allegation was “insulting,” considering that he is not even a smoker.

“In my whole life, I never smoked. I don’t drink (liquor). I don’t gamble,” Ricketts said during a press conference yesterday. “I’ve always been an anti-smoking advocate.”

The camp of Mayor Philip Dacayo of Solano town said he was “misquoted” in the news report. Dacayo’s lawyer Edu Balyos said the mayor received a text message alleging that some of those from Ricketts group were smoking. The mayor was supposed to go to the area but never apprehended anyone, he said.

The provincial board has passed an ordinance banning smoking in public places.

Ricketts said he was in Solano the entire day for an anti-piracy operation in the province and a speaking engagement with students, and it would have been easy to arrest him if he really smoked in public that day.