"Malinis ang konsensya ko": Suspect in Gianni Rick Nordero's death breaks silence

• Police have arrested the primary suspect in the brutal killing of eight-year-old Gianni Rick Nordero in San Pablo City
• A witness positively identified the suspect as a relative of the child's parents who was allegedly seen at the crime scene
• Investigators believe a long-standing dispute between children in the family may have motivated the horrific attack
• The suspect strongly denied the allegations in a media interview claiming his conscience is clear despite the witness's claims

The pursuit of justice for young Gianni Rick Nordero has taken a major step forward as authorities in San Pablo City, Laguna, announced the arrest of a primary suspect. The eight-year-old Grade 3 student, who vanished on his way to school last January 9, was found dead in a secluded area with horrific injuries. Now, a relative of the boy’s own parents is behind bars, facing accusations that have shocked the local community.

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The breakthrough in the case came when a witness surfaced, claiming to have seen the actual killing. Based on the witness’s testimony, the police moved to arrest a man identified as a cousin of the victim's parents. Residents had previously reported seeing a man with blood on his clothes near the area, and some even claimed to have seen him sharpening a bolo (itak) shortly before the crime took place.

Despite the heavy accusations, the suspect maintained his innocence during an ambush interview with the media. “Mali ang paratang... Hindi ko po ginagawa 'yon. Hindi ko po alam sa kanila, malinis ang konsensya ko,” he stated, insisting that he had nothing to do with the child’s death. However, police are looking into a "child's quarrel" as a possible motive, noting that the suspect's grandchild and the victim reportedly had frequent disagreements.

The details of Gianni’s death remain heart-wrenching. The young boy was found in a grassy area near a cave, 50 meters from his home, with multiple hack wounds. His injuries were so severe that his ear was severed and several of his fingers were cut off. This development follows a P150,000 reward offer from the San Pablo City government and local officials, which helped encourage witnesses to come forward.

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While the community in Laguna grapples with this local tragedy, other parts of the country are also reeling from similar cases of extreme violence that have recently been resolved by police.

In a separate but equally chilling case, the public was recently disturbed by the story of a woman found dead inside a storage box. Before her body was discovered, it was revealed that she had managed to report receiving several death threats. Investigators are now piecing together her final days to determine if these threats were directly linked to her untimely and violent passing.

Meanwhile, another brutal attack on a student has led to a successful arrest in Mindanao. The suspect responsible for the heinous killing of a student in Valencia City is now in police custody following a dedicated manhunt. Much like the case in San Pablo, the community’s cooperation played a vital role in ensuring that the individual responsible for the crime would face the law.

Source: KAMI.com.gh