Suspects in policewoman, son killings face robbery with homicide, theft charges

Complaints have been filed against the suspects and a person of interest in connection with the killings of Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido and her eight-year-old son John Ysmael, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the NCRPO said that on Sunday, a complaint for two counts of robbery with homicide and theft has been filed with the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against three suspects.

The three suspects include a car agent, her partner, and an accomplice.

Also, a complaint for obstruction of justice has been filed against the ex-husband and father of the victims, Police Senior Master Sergeant John Mollenido, who is still considered as a person of interest.

Diane’s body was found on January 24 along Pulilan Bypass Road in Barangay Dulong Malabon, Pulilan, Bulacan, where she was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

Five days later on January 29, Ysmael’s body was found at a calamansi farm along a farm-to-market road in Barangay Maluid, Victoria, Tarlac.

The three suspects were arrested in Novaliches, Quezon City and placed under police custody on January 30.

“While the couple opted to remain silent, one male suspect, identified as the alleged ‘striker,’ made statements during a televised interview acknowledging knowledge and participation in the crime,” the NCRPO said.

“Authorities clarified that statements made outside formal proceedings are treated only as corroborative information, and that accountability will be determined solely on the basis of evidence lawfully obtained and evaluated through proper judicial processes,” it added.

On February 2, another female suspect voluntarily surrendered to authorities who was identified as the sister of the car agent’s husband. She is set to be referred to the Prosecutor’s Office for inquest proceedings.

John is currently under restrictive custody and is likewise set to face corresponding administrative cases in accordance with existing police rules and regulations.

Based on the investigation, Diane and Ysmael were on their way to meet the car agent in Quezon City following the sale of a vehicle on January 16. Police said the agent is Diane’s godchild.

One of the suspects has alleged that he witnessed the aftermath of the shooting at the residence of the car agent and her partner.

Investigators found that the killings stemmed from a botched vehicle sale transaction inside the house of the car agent in Quezon City, where the agent’s husband shot the policewoman.

Ysmael was brought to a room where the suspects wrapped his head with plastic bag until the boy died of suffocation, the police said.

Aside from the couple, the two other suspects were also present when the crime happened. The three children of the couple aged six, eight, and 10 were in their room.

The couple told their children that their family were going to Baguio City for a vacation but along the way, the suspects disposed of the bodies, according to the police. —KG, GMA Integrated News