Former ‘Pinoy Fear Factor’ winner Jommy Teotico has broken his silence on the years he spent behind bars, sharing his story in a recent vlog with entertainment columnist Ogie Diaz.
Teotico, who was arrested in 2014 in San Pedro City, Laguna for alleged violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, said he has long been cleared of the charges and has been free since 2021. Looking back, he now calls his time in prison both a “blessing and a curse.”
Jommy recalled how the arrest, which took place at the home of his then partner and ‘PBB Teen Edition’ alum Jamilla Obispo, caught him completely off guard. He said he was at home when police officers barged in.
“Napatunayan na set-up siya. Bigla na lang pumasok yung mga police. Wala ngang media nun. Yung media hinabol na lang sa presinto,” he shared.
He claimed that Jamilla’s mother admitted to orchestrating the arrest. “Inamin naman niya na siya ‘yung nagpa-set up. Tapos sabi niya, akala niya sandali lang. Tatakutin lang daw ako. Sabi ko, okay na tapos na eh,” he added.
Despite the ordeal, Teotico said the experience transformed him. “Hindi ako ito kung hindi ako nakulong,” he said. “Part siya ng paghulma sa akin ngayon… Kung hindi ako nakulong, hindi ako ‘to… Yun na lang yung nakita ko—blessing and a curse. Mas nabuo ako, mas nakilala ko sarili ko.”
During his six-year incarceration, the former reality show champ channeled his energy into writing a book titled ‘Mind of an Altruist’, now available online and in local bookstores.
He also opened up about his first night in prison, which left a lasting impression. “First night ko, may kasama akong pinasok din pero nagwala siya kasi hindi niya matanggap na nakulong siya. Ang ginawa, ginulpi siya. Parang pinakita sa akin—kahit anong gawin mo dito, kahit sumigaw ka, kahit ano pa, wala ka nang magagawa. Nakakulong ka na,” he said.
Jommy, who admitted in the past to using cannabis to help manage his ADHD symptoms, had also been vocal about advocating for marijuana education. A previous Instagram post of his read: “The people who are against marijuana are the same people who have box knowledge… They don’t want to think because it’s time-consuming to research the truth.”
Before his legal troubles, Teotico rose to fame as the grand winner of ‘Pinoy Fear Factor’, the ABS-CBN reality competition filmed in Argentina in 2008. He brought home P2 million in prize money and later appeared in various Kapamilya shows including ‘Imortal’, ‘Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo’, and ‘Angelito: Batang Ama’, as well as in movies like ‘And I Love You So’ and ‘Won’t Last A Day Without You’.
