Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

Rochelle Suarez had long waited for the chance to finally express the love and care of a mother to her eight-year-old son after they were separated when she entrusted him for adoption to her husband’s sibling.When her son Gianni Rick Nodero’s adoptive and nurturing mother passed away on October 5, 2025, Suarez gradually began to make up for the time she had lost with her child. That chance, however, was abruptly cut short by a horrific crime.“Ngayon pa lang ako bumabawi sa kaniya kasi para po maramdaman din niya po na ako po ang tunay niyang ina po,” Suarez said.“Pinupuntahan ko po siya sa tanghali, pinapakain ko po para po mapalapit ang loob niya sa akin, eh kaso ngayon papaano ko pa po ’yun magagawa kasi wala na siya,” she added.At around 6:00 a.m. last Friday, Rochelle herself dressed her Grade 3 son in his school uniform. The child was excited to go to school because he had an exam and a dance competition that day.That moment turned out to be the last time she would ever show her son a mother’s love.While Gianni was waiting for his father—who was just taking a bath and was supposed to bring him to school—the child suddenly disappeared, leaving only his school bag behind.Believing that his son had gone ahead to school, the father brought the bag there. He was shocked when school officials told him that the child had not arrived.Family members and neighbors immediately joined the search.At around 11:00 a.m., the bloodied body of the victim was found in a forested area in Barangay Santiago 2.The victim sustained multiple stab wounds. His ear had been severed, his neck was nearly decapitated, his abdomen was slashed repeatedly, and several fingers on his hand had been cut off.On Sunday, two witnesses came forward and identified a 59-year-old man as the suspect.Police swiftly arrested him.“Nakita malapit sa pinangyarihan na may dugo ang mga damit. Kinuha natin ng salaysay kaya naaresto natin. Noong gabi prior to the incident, may isa pa po tayong witness na nakita na nagpe-prepare, naghahasa ng gulok ang suspek,” said PMaj. Gerry Malipol, deputy chief of police of the San Pablo City Police.Police, however, admitted they have yet to recover the bladed weapon allegedly used in the crime, as well as the bloodstained clothing supposedly worn by the suspect.The victim’s family was stunned to learn that the suspect is a relative—specifically, a first cousin of the child’s father and also their neighbor. The suspect allegedly even visited the wake of the victim on the first night.Police have filed a murder case against the suspect before the city prosecutor’s office.The suspect strongly denied the allegations.“Mali po ang paratang nila. Hindi ko po ginagawa ’yun. Malinis po ang konsensya ko,” he said.Despite the denial, the victim’s father remains convinced that his cousin is responsible.“Hindi ako makapaniwala na kamag-anak ko pa ang gagawa ng krimen sa anak ko kasi kami naman ay magpinsang buo. Ang kaniyang ama at aking ina ay magkapatid,” said Jun-Jun Suarez, father of the victim.“Aminin na niya nang mabawasan naman ang sama ng loob ko sa kanila,” he added.According to the police investigation, a children’s quarrel was the root cause of the crime. The victim was reportedly often involved in disputes with the suspect’s granddaughter.“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,” Maj. Malipol explained.The victim’s mother expressed deep anguish that a simple children’s dispute led to such a brutal crime.“Bakit niya po ginawa sa anak ko ’yun? Kung may kasalanan naman po sana ay dapat pinagsabihan, hindi ginano’n siya,” said Rochelle Suarez.On Monday, Public Attorney’s Office Chief Percida Rueda-Acosta personally visited the family and extended her condolences after the family appealed for legal assistance from the Public Attorney’s Office.

The victim was reportedly often involved in disputes with the suspect’s granddaughter.

The victim was reportedly often involved in disputes with the suspect’s granddaughter.

Children's quarrel seen as motive in killing of 8-year-old in Laguna

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Children's quarrel seen as motive in killing of 8-year-old in Laguna

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 13, 2026 12:49 AM PHT

Read More:

San Pablo City

Laguna

murder

brutal killing

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