Criminal Charges Filed in Brutal Murder of Police Officer and Son
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has filed formal complaints against suspects in the shocking killings of Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido and her eight-year-old son John Ysmael, marking a significant step forward in this tragic case that has shaken communities across Central Luzon.
On Sunday, prosecutors received complaints for two counts of robbery with homicide and theft against three primary suspects, including a car agent who was reportedly the policewoman's godchild, her partner, and an accomplice. The charges were filed with the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.
Additionally, Police Senior Master Sergeant John Mollenido, the victims' father and ex-husband, faces obstruction of justice charges while remaining a person of interest in the ongoing investigation.
Timeline of Tragedy
The horrific sequence of events began on January 24, when Diane's body was discovered along Pulilan Bypass Road in Barangay Dulong Malabon, Pulilan, Bulacan. The veteran police officer had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Five days later, young Ysmael's remains were found at a calamansi farm along a farm-to-market road in Barangay Maluid, Victoria, Tarlac, deepening the community's grief and outrage.
The three main suspects were apprehended in Novaliches, Quezon City on January 30 and placed under police custody.
Investigation Reveals Brutal Details
According to police investigators, the murders stemmed from a failed vehicle sale transaction. Diane and her son had traveled to Quezon City on January 16 to meet the car agent following a vehicle sale arrangement.
"The investigation revealed that the killings occurred inside the house of the car agent in Quezon City, where the agent's husband shot the policewoman," authorities stated.
In a particularly disturbing detail, investigators found that young Ysmael was taken to a separate room where suspects suffocated him with a plastic bag wrapped around his head.
The couple's three children, aged six, eight, and ten, were present in their room during the crime. The suspects allegedly told the children they were going on a family vacation to Baguio City, but instead disposed of the bodies along the way.
Additional Arrests and Confessions
One male suspect, identified as the alleged "striker," made statements during a televised interview acknowledging his knowledge and participation in the crime, though authorities emphasized that such statements serve only as corroborative information.
On February 2, another female suspect voluntarily surrendered to authorities. She was identified as the sister of the car agent's husband and will face inquest proceedings.
"While the couple opted to remain silent, accountability will be determined solely on the basis of evidence lawfully obtained and evaluated through proper judicial processes," the NCRPO clarified.
John Mollenido remains under restrictive custody and will face administrative cases under existing police regulations.
This case has highlighted the vulnerability of law enforcement personnel even in civilian transactions and underscores the importance of thorough investigation procedures in ensuring justice for victims and their families.