Revillame aide hurt in San Juan robbery

MANILA, Philippines - An assistant of actor and television host Willie Revillame was critically wounded when he refused to hand over his cell phone to motorcycle-riding robbers in San Juan City yesterday.

Jose Luis Martinez, 47, is being treated at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center for two gunshot wounds in the back.

Martinez was waiting for a taxi at the corner of P. Guevarra and Ibuna streets in Barangay Onse when he was robbed at around 8 a.m., outgoing San Juan City police chief Senior Superintendent Bernard Tambaoan said.

Investigators are verifying reports that the robbers demanded that Martinez hand over his cell phone, then shot the victim twice as he turned to run away.

Superintendent Remus Medina, intelligence chief of the Eastern Police District, said Martinez is an assistant of Revillame.

Tambaoan said they are conducting a deeper probe of the shooting to determine whether the incident is related to Martinez’s work.