Former actor John Wayne Sace's surrender led to shooting, says relative

Former teen star John Wayne Sace's decision to surrender to authorities was what led to the shooting incident on Tuesday, his uncle claimed.

In a report by GMA News' Emil Sumangil in "24 Oras," John Wayne's uncle Alfred Sumalinog said the suspects were able to monitor the 27-year-old's movements because he surrendered under the anti-drug campaign, Oplan Tokhang.

"Akala nila maganda yung pagsuko. Hindi pala pagsusuko yung ginagawa, namo-monitor pa sila. Nakukuhanan pa ng litrato," Sumalinog said.

"Kaya yung ibang taong pumapatay, parang gusto na lang tirahin kung dapat tirahin," he added.

John Wayne and his friends were shot at by two suspects riding in tandem on a motorcycle in Barangay Caniogan, Pasig City.

John Wayne was shot above the buttocks. A bullet also grazed him in the arm. The hospital has already declared him "out of danger," the report said.

Sumalinog said the bullet fortunately missed his kidney.

However, John Wayne's friend Eric Sabino, 20, died after he was shot eight times.

According to Pasig police, John Wayne and Sabino were included in the list of personalities involved in illegal drugs.

But Sabino's mother, Juliet, said he had been "lying low" especially after meeting his girlfriend.

"Kahit ireport ko man sa inyo...hindi na siya maibabalik. Sabihin na natin na ang anak ko nag-droga, pero hindi talamak sa paggamit ng shabu," she said.

Sabino's girlfriend backed Juliet's claim.

"Binabantayan ako, ganyan. Lagi kaming magkasama. Malalaman mo naman kung nagbago na yung tao o hindi eh. At saka ang laki ng tinaba niya," she said.

Sumalinog also denied that John Wayne was involved in drugs.

"Isa lang talaga madadali dun eh, hindi naman talaga siya puntirya, naligawan lang talaga ng bala," he said. — Jessica Bartolome/BAP, GMA News