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Authorities inspect the location where an eight-year-old boy was found dead in San Pablo City, January 11, 2026. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News

Authorities inspect the location where an eight-year-old boy was found dead in San Pablo City, January 11, 2026.

Article (news)

CRIME

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768148398634viber_image_2026-01-11_23-40-42-273.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Authorities inspect the location where an eight-year-old boy was found dead in San Pablo City, January 11, 2026. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/>Authorities inspect the location where an eight-year-old boy was found dead in San Pablo City, January 11, 2026. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- An eight-year-old grade 3 pupil from Barangay Santiago 2 in San Pablo City, who suddenly went missing on Friday morning as he was supposed to go to school, has been found brutally murdered in a grassy area near a cave.According to Genalyn Manalo, the victim’s sister, her brother Gianni Rick Nordero suffered a gruesome fate after being repeatedly hacked by an unidentified suspect. The victim sustained severe wounds to the neck, abdomen, and fingers, as well as injuries to his ear and several broken ribs.The victim’s family is appealing to government officials for assistance in attaining justice. “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,” Genalyn Manalo said in an emotional plea.Based on initial investigations, at around 6:00 a.m. on Friday, the child was already in his school uniform and waiting for his father to finish bathing so he could be taken to school when he suddenly disappeared.The family initially thought the child had gone ahead to school, as only his bag was left behind. “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.However, when the father brought the bag to the school, the child was not there. He returned to the school several times, but the boy could not be found.This prompted the family to raise the alarm, and neighbors also joined in the search for the child.At around 11:00 a.m., the bloodied body of the child was discovered in a grassy area near a cave, about 50 meters away from the only pathway connecting the victim’s home to the main road. The area is secluded, with houses located far apart. 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. A reward totaling P150,000 has been offered for information leading to the identification of the child’s killer—PHP 100,000 from the Local Government Unit of San Pablo City and P50,000 from officials of Barangay Santiago 2.San Pablo City Mayor Arcadio “Najie” Gapangada Jr., who personally visited the wake and expressed condolences to the family, 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,” the mayor said.“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,” he added.Meanwhile, PLTCOL Redentor Tiraña, chief of the San Pablo City Police Station, said authorities already have a male person of interest in custody that could be a possible suspect. “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,” Tiraña said.The person of interest is currently undergoing interrogation, and authorities are also determining whether he is under the influence of illegal drugs. The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) is also assisting the victim’s family.<div>  </div>

An eight-year-old grade 3 pupil from Barangay Santiago 2 in San Pablo City, who suddenly went missing on the morning he was supposed to go to school on Friday, was found brutally murdered in a grassy area near a cave.

An eight-year-old grade 3 pupil from Barangay Santiago 2 in San Pablo City, who suddenly went missing on the morning he was supposed to go to school on Friday, was found brutally murdered in a grassy area near a cave.

Grade 3 pupil vanishes on way to school, found brutally murdered in San Pablo City

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Grade 3 pupil vanishes on way to school, found brutally murdered in San Pablo City

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 12, 2026 12:24 AM PHT

|

Updated Jan 12, 2026 02:40 AM PHT

Read More:

Murder

San Pablo City

Laguna

Grade 3 Pupil

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