Cebu singer Jay-r Siaboc: I’ve been a drug user since 2013, but not a pusher

Cebu singer Jay-r Siaboc (Photo from Mr. Siaboc’s Facebook page)

CEBU CITY — Cebuano singer Jay-r Siaboc admitted on Wednesday, that he has been using illegal drugs since 2013.

But he emphasized that he never peddled drugs, contrary to reports circulating in social media.

As a singer, Siaboc said he could not help but resort to illegal drugs to manage stress.

“Pero niundang nako bag-o lang. (But I stopped using drugs just recently),” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN Cebu.

Siaboc said he went to the Toledo City Police Station Tuesday evening to clear his name amid allegations that he was a drug pusher.

“The only profession I know is to sing and if they accuse me of using drugs, who else will believe me?,” he said.

His wife Trisha May lashed at people who judged Siaboc.

In her Facebook post, Trisha May Varga clarified that Siaboc went to the Toledo City Police Office last Tuesday “to clear up his name, not to surrender” contrary to claims made by the police.

“We are not involved in any illegal transaction (never in our life). We live in a decent way and we are raised well by our parents. This is just another challenge in our life, and we won’t just turn our back. We will fight for God knows, and the Truth will prevail!,” she said.

To prove that she was telling the truth, Varga said her family would submit themselves to the police for an investigation.  “We would be much happier if the authority will conduct an investigation. You are so welcome. Our life is an open book,” she added.

Varga called on the public not to immediately judge Siaboc solely based on news reports.

“We are living a simple and peaceful life.  Even if there are times nga magkalisud mi pero wala gyud tawn mi ana inyung gi post oi (Even if there are times when we encounter difficulties, we will never resort to illegal drugs,” she said.

Contrary to the report of the police chief of Toledo City, Varga said she was not with Siaboc when the latter went to the police office to clear his name.

“Ayaw mo patagag yawit kay naa mi pàmilya nga naapil og kabalaka for our safety ana inyung giingon nga ipaligpit. Tanang kaila namu kahibaw og unsa mi, and GOD knows, pagkanta-kanta ra ang gabuhi namu. Na-datu na unta mi ron,” her post read.  (Be careful of what you accused us of, because we have a family who is concerned over our safety. All those who know us can attest to the fact that I’m telling the truth. God knows that we earn a living only by singing. If we’re into drugs, we would have been rich by now.)

Supt. Samuel Mina Jr., acting chief of the Toledo City Police Office (TCPO), Wednesday told reporters on Wednesday that Siaboc and his wife were accompanied by the singer’s cousin when they “surrendered” to the police in Toledo City, western Cebu, Tuesday.

He said Siaboc, 29,  feared  for his safety after rumors spread on social media that he was a drug pusher.  The singer  reportedly wanted to change his life for the better.

Mina said Siaboc, who was a runner up in the Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) in 2006, was one of the 528 drug suspects who surrendered to the police in Toledo on Tuesday.

Mina said he talked to Siaboc who admitted using drugs with his wife but denied that he was selling the illegal substance.

“He confessed that he’s been using drugs but not a peddler,” Mina told the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the phone.

Siaboc was subjected to tactical interrogation where he told the police that he got his supply from his friends in Barangay Awihao whom he did not name.

Siaboc also signed a waiver and would be monitored by the police.

The youngest of five siblings, Siaboc lived in Manila with his uncle who introduced him to the band scene.

He pursued his dream and became the vocalist of Scrambled Eggs.

Siaboc first appeared on television on Your Song and then in the prime time TV series Pangarap na Bituin (Dream Star). He also starred in the action TV series Palos (Slippery).

The Cebuano performer also had some music hits such as “Hiling” (Request) and “May Tama Rin Ako” (I Also Have a Hit).  SFM