Child of slain policewoman died due to suffocation — SPD

John Ysmael Mollenido, the eight-year-old boy who was found dead in Tarlac days after his policewoman mother was also found lifeless in Bulacan, died due to “asphyxia by suffocation,” the Southern Police District (SPD) said Friday.

This was based on SOCO’s initial findings, according to SPD spokesperson Police Lieutenant Margaret Panaga.

“Batay sa paunang findings ng SOCO, ang sanhi ng pagkamatay ay asphyxia by suffocation. Ayon sa paunang ulat, mahigpit na nakatape ang mukha ng bata,” Panaga told GMA News Online.

(Based on initial findings from SOCO, the cause of death is asphyxia by suffocation. According to initial reports, the child's face was tightly covered with tape.)

On Thursday, the body of John Ysmael was found at a calamansi farm in Victoria, Tarlac. His father, Police Senior Master Sergeant John Mollenido, positively identified the boy’s body.

On January 24, Ysmael’s 38-year-old mother, Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido, was also found dead in a creek in Pulilan, Bulacan with a gunshot wound on the head.

They were last seen on January 16 and were officially reported missing on January 19 by John.

Based on the initial investigation, Panaga said Diane and Ysmael went missing as they were set to meet an agent in Quezon City after selling a vehicle. The police found that the agent is a godchild of the victim. 

The agent is considered a person of interest but is now missing.

Authorities on Wednesday entered his house in Quezon City, where the policewoman was last seen alive, by virtue of a search warrant. 

Blood traces were found in the house. These will undergo examination if they will match with the victims. 

Aside from the car sales agent, John is also being investigated for the death of his son and ex-wife. According to him, he understands why the investigators are also looking into him.

“Kasi ‘yun nga, dati kong asawa. May mga bagay na di namin napagkakaunawaan. Naawa ako kasi doon sa sinapit niya, di naman niya deserve yung ganung ano,” John said.

(Because, well, she’s my former wife. There were misunderstandings between us. I feel sorry for what happened to her. She didn't deserve that.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News