Three suspects arrested in the brutal killing of policewoman and her young son

• National Capital Region Police Office Chief Brig Gen Anthony Aberin confirmed on Saturday that three suspects have been arrested for the killing of Senior Master Sgt Diane Marie Mollenido and her son
• The arrests were conducted on Friday evening following the grim discovery of 8-year-old John Ysmael’s body in a Tarlac farm where an autopsy revealed he died of suffocation
• Investigators are closely looking into a female car agent and her husband who were among the last people to see the victims during a planned car sale in Quezon City
• The Philippine National Police continues to provide financial and counseling support to the grieving family as follow-up operations against other potential accomplices remain active

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has made a significant breakthrough in the heartbreaking case of a slain policewoman and her young child. NCRPO chief Police Brig Gen Anthony Aberin announced on Saturday that three suspects are now in custody in connection with the double murder of Senior Master Sgt. Diane Marie Mollenido and her 8-year-old son, John Ysmael.

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In a brief message to the media, Aberin confirmed that the arrests were made on Friday evening. While the identities of the suspects have not yet been publicly disclosed to protect ongoing follow-up operations, the general indicated that the investigation is moving swiftly toward a resolution.

This development follows a tense two-week search that ended in tragedy on Thursday. A farm worker clearing grass in a calamansi farm in Barangay Maluid, Victoria town, Tarlac, discovered the boy's body. The scene was chilling: the child’s remains were wrapped in tape and hidden inside a plastic garbage bag. Forensic results later confirmed that John Ysmael suffered a painful death due to asphyxia or suffocation.

The tragedy began on January 16, when Diane Marie and her son left their home in Taguig City. They were reportedly heading to Novaliches, Quezon City, to meet a car agent to finalize the sale of their Toyota Innova for P450,000. When they failed to return, a missing person’s report was filed on January 19.

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Diane Marie’s body was found first on January 24, abandoned by a roadside in Pulilan, Bulacan, with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Investigators have since identified a female car agent as a key person of interest. Notably, the agent’s husband is a dismissed police officer. The officer’s estranged husband, Senior Master Sgt. John Mollenido, has also been named a person of interest as part of standard procedure.

The Philippine National Police, led by Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., has vowed to provide full support to the Mollenido family. Beyond the arrests, the PNP is providing financial assistance and counseling to help the family cope with the unimaginable loss of both a mother and a child.

Senior Master Sgt. Diane Marie Mollenido was a dedicated officer assigned to the NCRPO’s Personnel and Records Management Division. Her disappearance and the subsequent discovery of her and her son’s bodies in separate provinces (Bulacan and Tarlac) highlighted the calculated and brutal nature of the crime. The case has sparked national outrage, leading to the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to track down every individual involved in the botched car deal turned double h0micide.

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The discovery of the victims and the subsequent autopsy findings provided the critical leads necessary for the police to track down the suspects.

This report details the grim discovery of John Ysmael's body by a farm worker in Tarlac. It highlights the location of the body, which was found near an irrigation road frequently used by vehicles, indicating a deliberate attempt to hide the remains. The article also captures the initial reaction of the family and the local community upon hearing the devastating news.

Following the recovery of the remains, this article discusses the medical findings that confirmed the boy died of suffocation. The forensic evidence played a key role in helping investigators understand the timeline of the crime. The report also mentions the ongoing efforts of the PNP to coordinate across different provincial districts to catch the perpetrators.

Source: KAMI.com.gh