The PNP announced on Tuesday that the brutal killing of Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido and her 8-year-old son was linked to a fake or non-existent car dealership. The main suspects are a car agent and his wife, a former police officer who was dismissed from the service.
Based on the investigation, Mollenido was purchasing a vehicle worth P1.1 million from car agent Pia Katrina Panganiban, and had already paid P550,000. To complete the remaining balance, Mollenido allegedly sought Panganiban's help to sell another vehicle. However, after the transaction, he was allegedly killed by Kristian Panganiban, the car agent's wife.
Ayon kay Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, "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." Idinagdag ni QCPD Director Col. Randy Glenn Silvio na ang sasakyan ay hindi umiiral, na nagpapakita na ang krimen ay planado na.
Remulla revealed that after the crime, the suspects put the bodies in the back of a car and planned to travel to Baguio with their children. "But suddenly, things turned around. They dumped the bodies of Diane and John in Tarlac and Bulacan before sleeping in motels in Fairview and Pansol, Laguna," Remulla said. He added that the suspects have psychopathic tendencies, who are said to have no conscience for the crime they committed.
Currently, four suspects have been arrested and the case is considered closed. The body of the 38-year-old police officer was found in Pulilan, Bulacan on January 24, while his son was found in Victoria, Tarlac on January 29, with signs of torture. The car agent has denied any involvement in the crime, saying they were framed, while his wife is being considered a person of interest in the investigation.
