The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has assured full legal and forensic assistance to the family of an eight-year-old boy who was brutally murdered in San Pablo City last week.

PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta personally conveyed the assurance after visiting the wake of the victim, Gianni Rick Nordero, a Grade 3 pupil from Barangay Santiago 2, on Monday. She was accompanied by Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe, who also serves as director of PAO’s Forensics Laboratory Division.

Gianni went missing on Friday morning, 9 January, after leaving home to go to school. Police later found his body in a grassy area near a cave, bearing multiple hack wounds, injuries to his ear, and several broken ribs.

The victim’s sister, Genalyn Manalo, sought the assistance of Rueda-Acosta and appealed to authorities to help the family obtain justice for the killing.

Initial investigations showed that Gianni was already in his school uniform and waiting for his father, who was supposed to take him to school, when he suddenly disappeared.

Genalyn told Rueda-Acosta that the family initially believed Gianni had gone ahead to school, even though his bag was left behind. She said they never imagined he would meet such a gruesome fate.

She recalled that her brother was excited to attend school that day because he and his classmates were scheduled to perform a dance presentation after an exam.

Their father rushed to the school to bring Gianni’s bag but did not find him there. He reportedly returned to the school several times, but his son remained missing.

Police reports said the child’s body was discovered past 11 a.m. on the same day in a secluded grassy area near a cave, far from nearby houses.

Genalyn told the PAO chief that the family has no idea who could have committed the crime against her brother.

San Pablo City police chief Lt. Col. Redentor Tiraña said authorities already have a male person of interest who may be linked to the killing.

However, Erfe said PAO received information that the person of interest was ordered released for further investigation.

“If this is true, the family will be at risk, and would need police protection,” Erfe said.

“The PAO with its Legal and Forensic Teams are ready to help the family and the investigators,” he added.