Brian Velasco’s girlfriend addresses rumors about his death

MANILA, Philippines — Razorback dummer Brian Velasco’s girlfriend Portia Carlos has addressed the “malicious rumors and speculations” surrounding his death.

https://www.facebook.com/portia.carlos/posts/10155925408947623

“On top of the spectrum of emotions that we are experiencing right now, every day, there is also anger for all the malicious rumors and speculations that are being said and written. It’s been almost 2 weeks, and yet there is still something new every day,” Carlos said in a Facebook post on Monday.

“So, now, I am finally speaking up, (and this is the last time I will speak) about his condition, and the circumstances surrounding his death,” she added.

The Facebook post attached her statement posted by entertainment website Push where she explained that Velasco had bipolar disorder “that causes extreme mood swings that include mania or hypomania (emotional highs) or depression (lows).”

“Early last year, he asked me to stay with him because he said thoughts of ending his life were creeping in in short waves,” Carlos said.

Carlos narrated how she witnessed Velasco’s episodes where he was “either very angry or depressed. Raging or crying. Hyper or unable to move.”

She recounted how doctors eventually put Velasco on medication and he “agreed to take it religiously.”

Carlos discovered, however, that Velasco had stopped taking his medicines after a helper, who regularly cleaned his condominium unit, told her that Velasco stopped asking her to buy his medicines.

“After his death, they also saw some meds in the condo when his supply should have been used up by then. The helper knew when she was supposed to buy the meds if Brian had been taking it regularly,” she said.

“I learned that intermittent taking of the meds, or waiting a few days for the meds, could cause a withdrawal. He wasn’t depressed,” Carlos added.

She further disclosed: “BASED ON HIS MEDICAL CONDITION, HE HAD A MANIC-DEPRESSIVE EPISODE ON THE DAY OF JANUARY 16.”

She clarified that Velasco did not take his own life after losing his dog Alfie: “HE FOLLOWED HIS RECENTLY DEPARTED DOG ALFIE – NOT TRUE. He wanted to be a better Dad to Panchito than what he thought he was to Alfie. He was even more careful with Panchito.”

Panchito was the puppy of Velasco.

Carlos also denied the rumors that Velasco’s family waived the autopsy to supposedly cover up that he had been taking drugs: “THE FAMILY WAIVED THE AUTOPSY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO COVER UP DRUGS IN HIS SYSTEM – NOT TRUE. BRIAN DID NOT DO ANY DRUGS, NOT EVEN WEED.”

She then defended her boyfriend from comments like “OA” [overacting] or “KSP” [kulang sa pansin or attention seeker]: “HE WAS OA OR KSP FOR LIVE-STREAMING THE ACT – NOT TRUE. AS I SAID BASED ON THE DOCTOR’S EXPLANATION, HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING AT THE TIME DUE TO HIS MANIC-DEPRESSIVE STATE.”

Velasco died last Jan. 16. /cbb

READ: Razorback drummer livestreams plunge to death – producer 

Persons feeling they need assistance may call Hopeline hotlines 804-HOPE (4673); 0917-558-HOPE (4673); or 2919 (toll-free number for Globe and TM subscribers).