Veteran broadcaster Julius Babao has revealed that former actor John Wayne Sace repeatedly refused offers to undergo rehabilitation for drug use, following the recent arrest of Sace for his alleged involvement in a fatal shooting in Pasig City.
Babao shared his disappointment in an Instagram post on Thursday, October 31, recalling his attempts to guide Sace away from a troubled path.
“Nanghihinayang ako sa naging kapalaran ng dating aktor na si John Wayne Sace,” Babao stated, revealing that he and others had offered the former actor a chance to enter rehab and relocate for a fresh start. However, Babao said, “Ilang beses namin siyang inalok na magpa-rehab at lumayo sa lugar na kanyang tinitirahan, subalit ilang beses siyang tumatanggi.”
Babao’s post comes after Sace was detained as a suspect in a shooting incident that claimed the life of a Pasig resident. Expressing sympathy for the victim’s family, Babao added, “Tayo po ay nakikiramay sa pamilya ng biktima. Tanging hukuman na lamang ang makakasagot sa mga tanong na naglalaro sa ating mga isipan.”
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In a 2023 interview with Babao, Sace admitted that his struggles with substance abuse had derailed his once-promising showbiz career. During that interview, Sace also dismissed the idea of entering a formal rehabilitation program, opting instead for “self-rehab.”
Journalist Bernadette Sembrano also spoke out about her interview with Sace last year, reflecting on his demeanor and expressing concern over his troubled state. Sembrano noted that Sace spoke about finding peace and wanting to be a good father, but his responses left her with unanswered questions. “I asked him during the interview what the next chapter was for him. He talked about being at peace, fear for his family… When I asked him what’s next for John Wayne, he didn’t envision this,” she said.
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Sace, who rose to fame in the early 2000s through roles in ‘Home Along Da Riles,’ ‘Spirits,’ ‘May Bukas Pa,’ ‘Guns and Roses,’ and ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,’ also earned critical acclaim for his role in ‘Dekada ’70.’
