John Wayne Sace claims he and his family received threats before his arrest for allegedly killing his friend
Former actor John Wayne Sace, who was arrested for allegedly killing his friend, claimed he and his family received threats before the incident.
“Mayroon pong banta. May banta po sa akin at saka sa pamilya ko," Sace said in an interview from prison with GMA News' 24 Oras.
"Inikutan na po ako. 'Yun na rin po ang last na ikot niya, nagsalita rin naman siya sa akin, 'Isang ikot na lang. Isa pa,’ sabi sa akin," he said, pertaining to his friend. “Nararamdaman ko po talaga na mayroon siyang gagawin na hindi maganda.”
Hendrix Mangaldan, chief of Pasig police, said Sace's motive may have been an "old personal grudge."
"May grave threats sa bawat isa," Mangaldan added.
Sace is facing murder charges, according to the police official. "There is a premeditated planning, at the shadow of the night, he shot the victim without any defense," Mangaldan said.
According to Eastern Police District officer-in-charge Villamor Tuliao, the incident happened on Feliciano Street in Barangay Sagad in Pasig City, on Oct. 28 at around 7:30 p.m.
A closed-circuit television footage showed the victim, Lynell Eugenio, walking in an alley. Gunshots were heard a few minutes later. Eugenio suffered four bullet wounds and died immediately. “Nakita ko ‘yung tao. Nakahandusay na siya, wala na pong buhay,” barangay tanod Jesus Berecio told 24 Oras.
Sace was caught in a motel near the crime scene by the Pasig City police follow-up unit an hour after the incident.
Witnesses told 24 Oras that before the crime happened, they noticed Sace was acting differently. They accused him of being drunk and having bloodshot eyes. “Bangag na bangag po 'yung itsura niya," the witness said. "Tapos nagtataka lang po ako, parang hawak po siya ng hawak sa likod."
Before his arrest, Sace posted on his Facebook account, saying, “Nagtutulak kayo ng droga ng palihim diba? 'Yun mga buhay na sinira nyo? May kalaban-laban ba? 'Yung mga ninakawan nyo? Meron? 'Wag kayo pavictim. Ilang beses nyo na ko pinagplanuhan katulad kagabi??? Ha diba? 'Pag umalis ako, papatayin nyo pamilya ko."
Sace is a former child actor who was part of ABS-CBN's talent agency Star Magic. He starred in various movies and television shows, including It Might Be You (2003), Spirits (2004), Dekada '70 (2002), Guns and Roses (2011), FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2022), and Pamilya Sagrado (2024). He was also a member of the boy dance group "AnimE" alongside Rayver Cruz, Rodjun Cruz, Mhyco Aquino, Sergio Garcia, Emman Abeleda, and Mico Aytona.
In 2016, Sace was involved in a shooting incident and was a part of the Pasig City police's drug watch list.