Missing 8-year-old son of slain policewoman found dead in Tarlac

• The remains of eight-year-old John Ysmael Mollenido were recovered in Victoria, Tarlac, a week after he and his mother first disappeared
• The boy’s mother, Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido, was found dead in a Bulacan creek earlier with a gunshot wound to the head
• Luminol tests conducted at a car agent’s house in Quezon City revealed traces of blood in the bathroom and drainage areas
• Authorities are now backtracking CCTV footage to determine how the victims were transported from Novaliches to their respective dump sites

The agonizing search for eight-year-old John Ysmael Mollenido has come to a tragic end. On Thursday afternoon, authorities confirmed the recovery of the boy’s body in Barangay Maluid, Victoria, Tarlac. The discovery comes just days after his mother, Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido, was found dead in a separate province.

The young boy had been missing since January 16, the day he accompanied his mother to Novaliches, Quezon City, for a car sale transaction. While the policewoman’s body was discovered in a creek in Pulilan, Bulacan, last Saturday, the whereabouts of her son remained a mystery until today. Investigators are now piecing together the timeline of how the mother and son ended up in different locations.

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The investigation has centered on a car agent’s house in Barangay San Agustin, Novaliches, which was the last place the two were seen alive. Forensic experts from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) processed the residence with the permission of the owner's lawyer. Kahapon po nag-conduct po tayo ng luminol test po doon sa bahay ng agent and base po sa paunang report meron daw po itong traces of blood, pero for confirmatory pa po ito kung ito ba ay human blood, said PLt Margaret Panaga, spokesperson for the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG).

The agent, who is considered a person of interest, initially told police that Mollenido had contacted him on January 17 to say she and her son were staying at a friend’s house. However, evidence suggests a more violent encounter. Base po sa SOCO report initial cause of death is gunshot wound po sa may bandang kaliwa po sa taas ng tainga… tumagos po sa may collar bone, Panaga added, referring to the policewoman’s autopsy.

The tragedy of the Mollenido family echoes other recent incidents involving members of the police force, highlighting the dangers officers face even outside of active operations.

A young female officer in a separate incident lost her life due to an accidental discharge of her firearm. The victim was reportedly preparing for a police operation when the service weapon went off, hitting her in a vital area. Her colleagues expressed deep sadness over the loss of a promising officer who had much to offer the service.

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Before the tragic recovery of John Ysmael, the public was focused on the discovery of Diane Marie Mollenido’s body in a Bulacan creek. Her remains were found wrapped in cloth and plastic, showing signs of advanced decomposition. At that time, authorities were still hopeful that the child would be found safe, prompting an intensified search and rescue operation across neighboring provinces.

Source: KAMI.com.gh