It is now JC de Vera's turn to topbill TV5's weekly drama anthology 5-Star Specials Presents.

At the press conference held last night, June 9, at Celsius Gastro Lounge along Tomas Morato in Quezon City, the young actor proudly announced that he will be mixing action, drama and fantasy this time around.

But the central focus of all the materials that will be shown (as revealed in the preview) clearly favors the action genre.

"Ang nakakatuwa po kasi na-explore ko naman 'yong side naman ng action. Nabigyan ako ng chance na gawin 'yong mga ganito na hindi ko naman nagagawa before. So, kung saan man ako dalhin nitong 5-Star Specials Presents, tatanggapin ko," said JC.

The debut episode on June 16 will see JC assume the role of a cold-blooded hired killer simply known as Tato. His other portrayals for the coming episodes include a street fighter, a magician-vampire, and a superhero battling evil.

This is JC's comeback as a serious actor following his transfer to the Kapatid network from GMA-7 last March. He is currently seen in the comedy gag show Lokomoko High and the Sunday noontime musical variety show P.O.5.

Juggling roles and shows is not an easy task but JC's not complaining, particularly after experiencing a lull in acting assignments at the tail end of his stay with the Kapuso network.

"Ito naman po 'yong gusto ko talaga," confided JC. "Ine-enjoy ko lang po 'yong ginagawa ko ngayon kasi ito po yong mga bagay na hindi ko nagagawa nung nasa kabila pa 'ko. Totoo naman po 'yon, hindi naman ako nakakasayaw dun, hindi ako nakakapag-host, hindi ako nakakapag-gag show. So, dito po talaga nae-explore ko 'yong pagiging artist ko. Pero hindi ko rin naman sinasabi na magaling ako. But I take it as a challenge kasi ayoko mapahiya sa mga tao lalo na sa mga naniniwala sa akin."

FEELING VINDICATED. JC also gave his reaction to the recent DOJ (Department of Justice) decision concerning the slander case filed by his manager Annabelle Rama against GMA-7 executive Wilma Galvante. JC is the witness of Annabelle on the said case. (CLICK HERE to read related story.)

The DOJ reversed the decision handed down by the Office of the Quezon City Prosecutor on July 24, 2009 dismissing the slander complaint versus Galvante due to "lack of probable cause."

The June 8, 2010 Resolution, signed and endorsed by acting DOJ Secretary Alberto Agra, granted Rama's petition for the case to be reviewed while at the same time instructing the City Prosecutor of Quezon City to "file an Information for Slander under Article 358 of the RPC (Revised Penal Code) against respondent Wilma Galvante."

JC's testimony as stated on his court affidavit served as the basis for the complaint. The actor alleged that Galvante "made negative comments" against Rama on February 16, 2009 while he was at the network executive's office.

"Masayang-masaya po ako. Kasi, obviously, totoo lahat nung sinabi ko, na hindi lang ako gumagawa-gawa ng kuwento," said JC when asked about the ruling.

He added, "Hindi po ako nasasabihan kung ano 'yong kailangan kong sabihin. Hindi rin po ako sinasabihan ni Tita Annabelle kung ano 'yong kailangan kong gawin. Kung ano 'yong nangyari talaga, 'yon po 'yon. And na-prove naman po namin...."

Is there a sense of vindication on his part?