Feb 21, 2011, 10:40 GMT
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/health/news/article_1620804.php/Philippine-leader-refuses-to-be-anti-smoking-poster-boyManila - Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, a known heavy smoker, on Monday declined calls for him to become the poster boy for the country's anti-smoking campaign.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino was already cutting back on the number of cigarettes he consumes daily, but was not ready to give up the habit.
'I think it's unfair for them to ask the president to be the anti-smoking poster boy, knowing that the person smokes to de-stress himself,' he said.
'This is a very stressful job, so let's allow the president some way of de-stressing,' he added. 'He still plans to cut down on smoking. Let's leave it at that.'
The Philippine Medical Association has asked Aquino to be the 'driving force' behind an effective implementation of the country's anti-smoking commitments with the World Health Organization.
The group said Aquino should do this as part of his duty to safeguard the health of Filipinos, especially young people.
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