Photo: Manila bulletin
Brilio.net/en - Filipino TV actor and singer Jay-r Siaboc, known for his performance at the Pinoy Dream Academy show, recently surrendered to local police in Toledo City, Cebu, admitting to years drug abuse. In the midst of the governments intensive crackdown on illegal drugs in the country, Siaboc told authorities he was indeed an avid user. The story quickly grew into a celebrity scandal that spread across the Philippines.
No love from social media
via Facebook/Trisha May Gepitulan Varga
Under the weight of many accusations on social media that Siaboc was in fact a drug dealer, Siaboc chose to turn himself in, and search for redemption. But according to him, the reason he went to authorities was actually to deny his involvement in selling drugs. Instead, he claims he wanted to come clean about just his own drug habit.
The singer said he began using drugs to manage stress from his declining career 2013, and has only recently stopped using. Siaboc maintains that he was only involved with substance abuse as a user, and never actually dealt.
In the media, he sent a message to young people who might also be tempted to use drugs. Kids please do not try drugs, said the Filipino celebrity. It will destroy you and affect the lives around you.
Siabocs wife Trisha May took to Facebook in support of her husband. May defied one skeptical netizen who accused Siaboc of being a drug pusher by saying, God knows that we earn a living only by singing. If we were into drugs, we would have been rich by now.
Although many believe Siaboc turned himself in to cover up his actual role as a dealer, currently, there is no definitive evidence that points to him being guilty of drug peddling. For now, its basically just his word against the cynical social media voices.
by Cristian C
All things considered, a big question remains: Whats so important about highlighting one celebritys indiscretions? Why should the media and public care so much?
Some believe the answer is that young people often take their cues from celebs in the Philippines. The last thing Manila parents want is for their children to be following Siabocs lead blindly. This is a semi-reasonable concern, as marketers in the Philippines are big on celebrity endorsements to sell products to young people. To date, it is still unclear as to which illegal substances Siaboc actually admitted to using.
Becoming a public figure isnt all about fame and money. Instead, many advocates say there is a great deal of responsibility tied to being in the public eye. Even when youre not promoting anything, people are still interested in your life, and will inevitably try to emulate it. Miley Cyrus began twerking on stage and in music videos, and just look what happened!
Maximilian Surjadi via Content Collision
(brl/red)
