Three suspects in killing of policewoman and son now facing murder charges
Three people have been slapped with murder charges in connection with the killing of policewoman, Senior M/Sgt. Diane Marie Mollenido, and her eight-year-old son John Ysmael.
The Quezon City Police District said in a statement sent to the media that Pia Panganiban, Christian Panganiban, and Gil Dy Jr. have been charged with murder.
Per authorities, the three suspects "have been formally charged with two counts of murder, with no bail recommended, after the investigating prosecutor finds prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction against them."
Southern Police District public information officer Lt. Margaret Panaga said Mollenido and her son were last seen on Jan. 16, when they were reportedly going to Novaliches to see her godchild.
When the two did not return home, Mollenido's estranged husband John and his siblings reported them missing to authorities on Jan. 19.
Mollenido's body was found in a creek along Pulilan-Baliuag Bypass Road on Jan. 24. She had a gunshot wound on her left ear.
Her son was found dead in a calamansi farm in Tarlac more than a week later. Autopsy results showed that he died of asphyxia by suffocation, according to Central Luzon Police.
The suspects were arrested in two operations in Brgy. San Agustin and San Bartolome in Quezon City. Police had retrieved P100,000 in cash and the phones of the two victims from the nabbing of the three suspects.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said a car transaction was a motive in their killing.
