Actor hurt in gun attack; drugs eyed

MANILA, Philippines – Actor John Wayne Sace was hospitalized after unidentified assailants shot him and his companion in Pasig City Monday night.

Sace, 27, is listed as under observation at the Pasig General Hospital for a gunshot wound in the waist while Erik Sabino died on his way to PGH from several gunshot wounds.

Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, Eastern Police District director, said Sace is a former talent of the late German Moreno and one of his batchmates is actor-singer and television host Billy Crawford.

He also said Sabino and Sace are reportedly known as drug pushers and users and their names are on the drug watchlist of Barangay Sagad.

The two men were waiting for their friends at the corner of Col. Licsi street and Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue in Barangay Caniogan when two assailants shot at them at past 10 p.m. then fled on a motorcycle.

Police officers rushed Sabino and Sace to the hospital.

Bystanders turned over to investigators five fired cartridges and a deformed slug.

Sapitula directed Senior Superintendent Orlando Yebra Jr., Pasig City police chief, to hunt down the assailants and determine the motive for the attack.

More drug-related shootings

In San Juan City, barangay tanod John Joseph Domasig of Barangay Balong Bato was on duty in front of the barangay hall at around 11 p.m. Monday when unidentified assailants on two motorcycles shot him.

Barangay officials rushed Domasig, 30, to the San Juan City Medical Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.

Police officers said Domasig’s killing was drug-related but did not elaborate.

Also in Pasig, jeepney barker Jun Art Penia, 31, was calling for passengers at a transport terminal along Ortigas Avenue at around 10:30 p.m. Monday when two men shot him repeatedly.

Penia was listed as a pusher and user in Barangay Rosario’s watchlist, Sapitula said.

In Mandaluyong, Manuel Borromeo, 36, listed as one of the top 10 drug personalities in the city, was shot by two men on a motorcycle in front of his house in Barangay Hagdang Bato Libis at past 8 p.m. Monday.

He was reported to be in critical condition at the Mandaluyong City Medical Center.

In Malabon, a surrenderee whose name is on the police drug watchlist was gunned down by six unidentified men at past midnight yesterday.

Gilbert Villaruz, 47, was in his house on Bautista street in Barangay Panghulo at around 1 a.m. when a man arrived, knocked on his door and showed him a sachet of shabu, according to city chief investigator Inspector Dennis Javier.

While the two men were talking, five men arrived on separate motorcycles, barged into his house and dragged him outside.

Two of the men shot Villaruz in the head before the group sped away.

Javier said Villaruz surrendered during Oplan Tokhang on July 8 but there were reports he continued to push drugs.