Another suspect in killing of policewoman, son yields to cops
Another suspect in the killing of Police Senior Master Sgt. Diane Mollenido and her 8-year-old son John Ysmael has surrendered to the Quezon City police, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin told the Inquirer on Monday.
The pair was reported missing on Jan. 19 after they left their house in Taguig City to sell a Toyota Innova. They were last spotted alive at the house of a car agent in Novaliches, Quezon City, on Jan. 16.
A source said that the latest suspect is the sister-in-law of the car agent who allegedly helped clean up the supposed crime scene at the latter’s house.
Mollenido’s body, which bore a gunshot wound in the head, was recovered from a creek in Bulacan on Jan. 24. Her son was found dead in a grassy area at a calamansi farm in Tarlac on Jan. 29.
The next day, the car agent was arrested by authorities. Police also took into custody her husband, who is a dismissed police officer, as well as their helper.
Blood traces found
The Southern Police District previously told the Inquirer that traces of blood were found at the car agent’s house during a forensics test last week.
The 38-year-old Mollenido was a member of the NCRPO Personnel and Records Management Division based in Taguig City.
Her husband, also a police officer, “voluntarily submitted himself” to authorities in connection with the investigation, his legal counsel Cristobal Rimando said in a statement last Saturday.
According to Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., they have determined a motive in the killing of the victims.
“We have significant updates on that. And we have the names already of who are involved and the motive,” Nartatez told reporters in Camp Crame on Monday.
Pressed for more information, he said the PNP would bare the details at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Nartatez, meanwhile, added that he was saddened by the recent string of cases against police officers allegedly involved in criminal activities.
Errant lawmen
“Our salaries and allowances have gone up because our capabilities have increased through the giving of funds, particularly the capital outlay for training and other capabilities. We are thankful. But despite that, there are still errant officers,” he said.
Earlier, six Manila police officers were arrested for allegedly robbing a man in Makati City on Jan. 28.
