Laguna police say childhood quarrel might have been the senseless motive in brutal child slay

• Authorities identify a 59-year-old relative as the primary suspect in the brutal killing of 8-year-old Gianni Nodero
• Police believe the motive was a recurring quarrel between the victim and the suspect’s young granddaughter
• The victim’s mother had only recently reunited with her son before his life was tragically taken in a forested area
• Despite the suspect’s denial, witnesses claim to have seen him preparing a weapon just hours before the horrific attack

San Pablo City authorities believe the motive behind the brutal slaying of eight-year-old Gianni Rick Nodero can be traced back to a simple children’s dispute.

In a heartbreaking development in the investigation by the San Pablo City Police, authorities revealed that the 59-year-old suspect, who is currently in custody, allegedly harbored a deep-seated resentment toward the young victim.

According to police officials, the child—described by his mother as naturally "hyper" and playful—frequently got into minor squabbles with the suspect’s granddaughter.

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"Base sa magulang ng bata, yung kaniyang anak ay medyo hyper. Normal naman sa mga bata na medyo kalikutan sa ganoong age. Base po sa ina, nagagalit po itong suspek kung saan ang kalaro nitong biktima ay kaniyang mga apo. Madalas daw po napapaiyak," explained PMaj. Gerry Malipol, deputy chief of the San Pablo City Police.

These common childhood disagreements reportedly escalated into a fatal obsession for the suspect.

For the victim’s mother, Rochelle Suarez, the loss is doubly painful. Having been separated from Gianni after entrusting him to her husband’s sibling for adoption years ago, she had only recently begun to rebuild her bond with him following the death of his adoptive mother in October 2025.

On the morning of the incident, Rochelle had personally dressed Gianni in his school uniform. He was eager to attend school for an exam and a dance competition.

However, while waiting for his father to finish bathing so they could leave, the boy vanished. His bloodied body was later discovered in a nearby forested area, bearing horrific injuries that have left the entire community in mourning.

The tragedy took a more sinister turn when the family discovered that the arrested suspect is actually a first cousin of the child’s father.

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The suspect, who lives as a neighbor to the family, even had the audacity to attend the child’s wake on the first night before his arrest.

While the suspect continues to maintain his innocence, claiming a "clear conscience," police have already filed murder charges based on witness testimony.

One witness reportedly saw the suspect sharpening a bolo (machete) the night before the crime, while others placed him near the scene with bloodstained clothing.

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Percida Rueda-Acosta has since visited the grieving family, pledging full legal support to ensure that justice is served for the young student whose life was cut short by a motive as senseless as a playground quarrel.

In other news, a surveillance system in Valenzuela City recently recorded a male suspect surreptitiously taking a mobile device from a local business. Beyond the physical loss of a ₱6,000 smartphone, the victim discovered that ₱9,000 had been illicitly accessed and withdrawn from their digital wallet. Investigators determined that the perpetrator utilized a bicycle to flee the crime scene, heading toward the neighboring province of Bulacan. In the wake of the theft, local law enforcement and community leaders have intensified area monitoring as they work to identify the man in the footage.

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Meanwhile, on the lighter side of the news, Ferdinand Narciso successfully earned his legal title in the 2025 Bar Exams, a momentous achievement that followed four previous attempts and a 20-year journey. The decision to return to the law was sparked by his daughter, Mary Joyce Narciso, whose own desire to advocate for social justice motivated her father to try one last time. While preparing in Manila, the father-daughter pair navigated the immense financial pressure and mental rigors associated with the country’s most difficult professional licensure test. The Narcisos were among the nearly 49% of candidates who passed the 2025 examinations, making them a rare duo to take the lawyer's oath simultaneously.

Source: KAMI.com.gh