SAN PABLO CITY, LAGUNA — An eight‑year‑old Grade 3 pupil from Barangay Santiago 2 in San Pablo City, who went missing on Friday morning while preparing to go to school, was found brutally murdered in a grassy area near a cave. 

The victim, identified as Gianni Rick Nordero, sustained multiple hack wounds and severe injuries to the neck, abdomen, fingers, ear, and ribs.

According to his sister Genalyn Manalo her brother suffered a gruesome fate after being repeatedly hacked by an unidentified suspect. She added in an emotional plea, “Parang awa nyo na po, nahingi po kami ng tulong kay Atty. Percida Acosta, tulungan niyo po kami. Sana po makamit ang hustisya ng kapatid ko, wala po siyang kamalay-malay.”

Initial investigations revealed that Gianni was already in his school uniform at around 6:00 a.m. on January 9, waiting for his father to finish bathing so he could be taken to school. When his bag was later found without him, the family assumed he had gone ahead. 

“Excited po siya pumasok kasi noong araw na yun may exam po siya, tapos nag-practice pa po siya noong umaga ng sayaw kasi after ng exam may sayaw po sila,” Manalo said.

By 11:00 a.m., neighbors helping in the search discovered the boy’s bloodied body about 50 meters from the pathway connecting their home to the main road. The secluded area, with houses far apart, made the crime even more chilling.

The family said they could not think of anyone who might have committed the crime. “Sa sinapit po ng kapatid namin, karumaldumal. Hindi po talaga matatanggap namin, parang awa nyo na po tulungan nyo po kami,” Manalo added.

Authorities have since offered a ₱150,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the killer — ₱100,000 from the Local Government Unit of San Pablo City and ₱50,000 from Barangay Santiago 2 officials.

San Pablo City Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr. personally visited the wake and condemned the crime. “Sobrang brutal ang ginawa sa bata, karumaldumal. Hindi natin papayagan... Sa abot ng ating makakaya na siya ay makaligtas, tinutugis na siya ng ating kapulisan at lahat ng operatives,” he said. 

He added, “Sa gumawa nito, sumuko ka na kung gusto mo lumawig pa ng kaunti ang iyong buhay. Kapag ang ginawa mo na karumaldumal na gawain ay walang kapatawaran ito.”

Police confirmed that a male person of interest is now in custody. PLTCOL Redentor Tiraña, chief of the San Pablo City Police Station, said: “Yung mga imbestigador nagpunta dito may mga witness silang nakausap, may dugo sa damit, nakita nila before mangyari ang crime siya lang ang naghahasa ng itak.” The suspect is undergoing interrogation, and authorities are determining whether he was under the influence of illegal drugs at the time.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) is assisting the victim’s family in pursuing justice.

The brutal killing of Gianni Rick Nordero has shocked San Pablo City, with residents and officials calling for swift accountability. As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a young boy whose only intention that morning was to go to school and take part in his exam and dance activity.

Criminals Are Getting Fearless. Is Law Enforcement Sleeping? Where Are They?

Crimes are no longer just violent. They are shameless.

An eight-year-old boy was hacked to death in broad daylight on his way to school. A teenage girl was beheaded in Bukidnon and left in a field. A woman was murdered, sealed inside a storage box, and discarded as if she were nothing. These are not random acts. They point to a belief that perpetrators can act without immediate consequence.

That belief is the real danger. When killings happen openly, it signals that criminals no longer fear patrols, arrests, or swift justice. Communities are left asking the same question: where was law enforcement before the crime, not after?

Crimes related to drug use also surfaced. A person in full control does not commit this kind of violence against a child. If drugs are resurfacing in communities, then prevention has failed long before the crime scene.

Condemnation after the fact is not protection. Rewards after death are not deterrence.

Where is law enforcement now, and can we still feel their service and protection when it matters most?

Image from ABS-CBN News