DILG says policewoman and son killed for P450,000, murder case considered closed
The double murder case of the policewoman and her 8-year-old son is now considered closed as the suspects behind it have been identified.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 3, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido and her child John Ysmael were killed for hundreds of thousands of pesos.
“Sa halagang P450,000 ay pinatay ang mag-ina,” he said. “Ayon sa aming imbestigasyon, considered case closed na ito at charges will be filed.”
The identified suspects were Pia Katrina Panganiban, Christian Suarez Panganiban, Maribel Suarez Panganiban, and Gil Valdemoro Dy Jr., who allegedly served as their accomplice.
Per Remulla, a car transaction was a motive in the killing. "Parang pinag-interesan 'yung P450,000 na presyo ng Innova na binebenta. Nabili na eh, ibibigay na dapat 'yung pera kay Diane pero hindi rin binigay. Imbes na binigay, binaril nalang sya," he said.
Killing John Ysmael was not part of the plan. "Pinatay na 'yung nanay, nandun din 'yung bata. Hindi naman dapat kasama 'yung bata sa transaksyon eh, binitbit lang ng nanay," Remulla said. "Parang nakaplano na talaga na papatayin 'yung nanay, pero pinatay na din 'yung bata."
Mollenido’s ex-husband John is still in custody as a person of interest in the case.
“Isa nalang po ang anggulong tinitignan namin—‘yung anggulo ng asawa ni Diane na si John Mollenido,” Remulla said. “Si John Mollenido at si Diane ay hiwalay na ng tatlong taon, ngunit nung nalaman na namatay ‘yung kanyang asawa, imbes na i-subject sa autopsy ay pinacremate kaagad kasama ang suot na damit.”
According to Remulla, John didn’t show remorse when he was asked about his possible involvement in the case. “Hindi umiiyak, hindi malungkot. Asawa’t anak ang pinatay.”
“Ngunit marami pang development ito. Kinasuhan ng asawa si Pia at si Christian ng carnapping dahil nasa kanyang pangalan ang kotse pero binenta na wala sa kanya,” he said.
Southern Police District public information officer Lt. Margaret Panaga said Mollenido and her son were last seen on Jan. 16, when they were reportedly going to Novaliches to see her godchild.
When the two did not return home, John and his siblings reported them missing to authorities on Jan. 19.
Diane's body was found in a creek along Pulilan-Baliuag Bypass Road on Jan. 24. She had a gunshot wound on her left ear.
Her son was found dead in a calamansi farm in Tarlac more than a week later. Autopsy results showed that he died of asphyxia by suffocation, according to Central Luzon Police.
