FORMER television talent and singer Jay-R Siaboc surrendered to the Toledo City Police Station, admitting he was an illegal drug user.
The 29-year-old artist is famous for Tagalog songs “Hiling,” “May Tama Rin Ako,” and the Bisrock hit “Hilot.”
PO2 Joselito Genon said that Siaboc, who is Eduardo Jr. in real life, was accompanied by his wife when they walked into the station around 11 a.m. last Monday.
The artist was not arrested and was released after filling an affidavit with a promise he would not engage in illegal drugs again.
Intelligence reports showed Siaboc was hooked on illegal drugs for a long time.
SPO2 Gerardo Taboada, intelligence chief, said the artist is not engaged in selling illegal drugs.
Siaboc is still active in the band scene in Cebu and he still gets invited by organizers of fiestas. Taboada described Siaboc’s appearance as different from when the artist was still seen on television.
Courage
Police Regional Office 7 Director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, in a press conference yesterday, praised Siaboc’s courage to mend his ways.
In Naga City, the top two drug personality surrendered to the police yesterday morning.
Supt. John Clark, the city police chief, identified the suspect as Peter “Titi” Embolodi, who is 38 and a resident of Sitio Mohon, Barangay Langtad.
The suspect has pending arrest warrants for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 9262 (the Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act of 2004), both pending before Talisay City Regional Trial Court Branch 66.
In the past 13 days, Taliño said 28,232 junkies and pushers surrendered in the police offices of Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City.
Oplan
The surrenders are the results of Oplan Tokhang, a new program implemented by the Philippine National Police wherein the police knock on the houses of suspected users and illegal drug sellers to stop their illegal activities.
Of those who surrendered to different police stations, the record states 25,219 are drug users and 3,013 are pushers.
The Bohol Provincial Police Office recorded the most surrenders, with 14,782 junkies and drug traders.
Cebu Provincial Police Office followed with 9,157 surrenders from July 1 until July 12.
Some 2,636 junkies and pushers turned themselves over to the 11 stations under Cebu City Police Office, while 766 surrendered before Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.
The users and pushers who surrendered at the police offices of Mandaue City and Siquijor were at 652 and 239, respectively.
Taliño said he expects more persons hooked on illegal drugs will surrender in the coming days.