Hunger leads to arrest of suspect in Grade 7 student’s slay

Renan Estrope Valderama, the suspect in the murder of a Grade 7 student in Laguna. Photo from Laguna police

MANILA, Philippines — Hunger unexpectedly led to the arrest of the suspect in the murder of a Grade 7 student in Calamba City, Laguna, who was allegedly killed out of jealousy.

Col. Eleazar Matta, director of Laguna police, said Renan Estrope Valderama was arrested at around 4 a.m. Tuesday in Barangay Bucal, five days after he allegedly shot twice the 15-year-old male victim inside a classroom at the Castor Alviar National High School.

Initial investigation showed the suspect, a 36-year-old security guard and an alleged estranged lover of the victim, stayed at the hilly portions of Barangay Masili after the incident.

READ: Suspected killer of Grade 7 student in Laguna arrested

His hunger prompted him to go to a nearby village five days after the murder, according to a report from the Laguna police.

“His hunger [prompted] him to go down to look for food,” the report read.

Aside from hunger, Matta said that the suspect said he also wanted to see the victim before the burial on Thursday.

“Nagbigay siya ng statement na until the last [moment] nung bata, gusto niya makita bago ilibing (The suspect gave a statement that until the last moment of the child, he wants to see victim before the burial),” he said in a chance interview.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Matta said it is possible that the suspect did not eat anything and only drank water from a nearby creek while he was hiding from authorities.

When he went down to Barangay Bucal to look for food, a resident spotted him at the railroad tracks of the Philippine National Railways and reported him to the police.

Police then responded to the area and arrested the suspect.

Matta said Valderama admitted to the crime, and said the suspect was jealous of someone whom the police official did not identify.

Investigators found that Valderama and the victim allegedly had a romantic relationship prior to the murder. The suspect also paid for the student’s schooling fees, as the mother of the victim is currently jailed for drug charges and his father had already passed away.

Matta said the victim had decided to part ways with the suspect after the latter allegedly abused the minor sexually.

He said the victim had also filed a case of sexual abuse against the suspect two days before he was killed.

Cases of murder in relation to child abuse and illegal possession of firearms will be filed against the suspect. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)