Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Authorities said Tuesday the killing of Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido and her 8-year-old son stemmed from an alleged scam involving a non-existent vehicle, with a car agent and her husband, a dismissed police officer, identified as the main suspects.</p><p>Based on the investigation, Mollenido was in the process of purchasing a vehicle worth P1.1 million through car agent Pia Katrina Panganiban and had already paid P550,000.</p><p>To complete the remaining balance, Mollenido reportedly sought Panganiban’s help to sell another vehicle. </p><p>However, after the transaction with the buyer, Panganiban’s husband, Kristian—a dismissed police officer—allegedly killed Mollenido.</p><p>&quot;Sa bahay ni Panganiban ay pinatay si Mollenido sa pamamagitan ng gunshot wound. Ang kanyang anak na si John Ysmael ay ginapos ang ulo ng plastic bag at namatay dahil sa pananakal,&quot; Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.</p><p>Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Col. Randy Glenn Silvio disclosed that the supposed vehicle did not exist and that the crime appeared to have been planned.</p><p>&quot;Pag nabenta &#x27;yung P450,000, ibibigay &#x27;yung bayad kay Pia para makumpleto &#x27;yung P1M na order nilang Montero. E wala naman talagang Monterong darating kasi wala naman order,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Naikwento doon na 15 pa lang parang meron ng mga biniling mga garbage bag at kinoveran na &#x27;yung sofa. Ibig sabihin parang nagpa-plano na sila,&quot; he added.</p><p>Remulla said the suspects allegedly placed the bodies in the back of their vehicle and were supposed to travel to Baguio with their children after the incident.</p><p>&quot;Pero biglang umikot pabalik. Tinambak nila ang katawan ni Diane Marie Mollenido at John Ysmael doon sa Tarlac at sa Bulacan. Galing doon, natulog sila sa isang motel sa Fairview. Galing doon, dumiretso naman sila sa Pansol, Laguna kung saan sila natulog at bumalik na naman sa kanilang bahay,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Meron silang psychopathic criminal tendencies — walang konsensya eh. Paano mo madadala ang anak mo sa participation ng crime,&quot; Remulla also said, adding that the children were aged 10, 8, and 6.</p><p>Aside from the couple, the sister of Kristian and another individual who were allegedly present at the crime scene were also considered suspects.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/2/fourth-suspect-in-mollenido-killing-surrenders-1332">READ: Fourth suspect in Mollenido killing surrenders</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Police Senior Master Sergeant John Mollenido, the estranged husband of the victim, remained a person of interest after he allegedly ordered the immediate cremation of the policewoman’s body without undergoing an autopsy. </p><p>&quot;Noong nalaman niyang namatay ang asawa, imbes na i-subject to autopsy, pina-cremate agad kasama ang suot na damit. Nang tinanong siya kung ano ang involvement niya, wala siyang remorse, hindi umiiyak, hindi malungkot. Asawa&#x27;t anak ang pinatay,&quot; Remulla said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SLAM DUNK&#x27;</strong></div><p>Remulla said the case was considered closed following the arrest of four suspects linked to the crime.</p><p>&quot;This is a slam dunk case,&quot; he said.</p><p>The body of the 38-year-old policewoman was found in Pulilan, Bulacan on January 24 with a gunshot wound to the head, while the body of her son was discovered on January 29 in Victoria, Tarlac, showing signs of torture.</p><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, the car sales agent denied any involvement in the crime, claiming she was framed.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po namin ginawa ’yon, sine-setup lang po kami,&quot; she said at Camp Karingal, where she was detained.</p><p>&quot;Kaya binubugbog ako araw-araw ng mga pulis,&quot; the suspect also claimed.</p><p>In response, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said: &quot;Case have been referred already to the proper forum, andiyan na sa pisklaya. And &#x27;yan ay uusigin. Meron siyang pagkakataon to defend herself.&quot;</p><p>The legal counsel of the husband, meanwhile, has dismissed imputation of wrongdoing upon him, noting that emotional condition &quot;cannot, in law or reason, be considered evidence of guilt.&quot;</p><p>&quot;As publicly conveyed by DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the evidence gathered during the investigation does not establish that Mr. John Mollenido had any participation in the commission of the alleged offense. The records fail to engender a well-founded belief that he committed any crime and do not provide a factual or legal basis to attribute liability to him,&quot; Atty. Cristobal Rimando said.</p><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/waqox6N_Moo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday declared the killing of policewoman Diane Marie Mollenido and her 8-year-old son a closed solved, following the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/2/fourth-suspect-in-mollenido-killing-surrenders-1332">arrest of all 4 suspects</a> linked to the crime.</p>

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday declared the killing of policewoman Diane Marie Mollenido and her 8-year-old son a closed solved, following the arrest of all 4 suspects linked to the crime.

PNP: Fake car deal behind killing of cop, 8-year-old son

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PNP: Fake car deal behind killing of cop, 8-year-old son

Karen De Guzman,

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 03, 2026 11:17 AM PHT

|

Updated February 03, 2026 04:45 PM PHT

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Diane Marie Mollenido

Mollenido

DILG

Jonvic Remulla

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