Cayetano hits 'huge' Phl delegation to WHO meeting

Sen. Pia Cayetano scored the Philippines' "huge" delegation to a World Health Organization (WHO) tobacco control conference, where, instead of getting recognized for cracking down on smoking, the country was publicly shamed with its fifth "Dirty Ashtray" award.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Cayetano, who presided over the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the dishonorable award, said the Philippines sent the "biggest delegation" of 34 led by Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Dominic Guevara.

"For all of you who will feign ignorance, it is a tobacco lobby," Cayetano said of the delegation that allegedly touted the country's 2021 vape law that allowed tobacco smokers to shift to vapor products.

"Why would we want our Philippine delegation associated with a 'dirty ashtray' award? Why would we want to be known as succumbing to the lobby of the tobacco industry?" she added.

The Philippine delegation was given the "award" by civic watchdog Global Alliance for Tobacco Control for allegedly blocking the consensus on mandating the disclosure of the toxic contents of tobacco products during the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Panama City last Feb. 5-10.