Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla on Tuesday said the murder of Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido and her eight-year-old son, Ysmael, is considered “case closed” after the four suspects linked to the crime are now under police custody.
Remulla said the primary suspects, a married couple consisting of a dismissed police officer and a car sales agent, planned to kill Mollenido from the start. They allegedly committed the crime when the victims went to their house to supposedly get the vehicle Mollenido intended and promised to buy.
“This case is considered closed, and charges will be filed. This is a slam dunk case,” Remulla said in a press briefing held at Camp Crame.
Police are also probing the possible involvement of Mollenido’s husband, John, who allegedly ordered the immediate cremation of her body and supposedly showed no emotion or remorse following the incident.
The husband, also a Police Senior Master Sergeant, remains under the custody of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
“The Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon) filed charges against him (John) as he agreed to cremate the remains of his wife together with vital evidences without the body examined for autopsy,” NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Cristobal Rimando, who serves as John’s legal counsel, said that as publicly conveyed by Remulla, the evidence gathered during the investigation does not establish that John had any participation in the commission of the alleged offense.
“While our client’s emotional condition in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy was observed, such reaction is a natural human response to profound grief and cannot, in law or reason, be considered evidence of guilt. Emotional distress does not substitute for proof of participation in the alleged offense,” Rimando said in a statement sent to reporters.
“In view of the foregoing, Mr. John Mollenido continues to enjoy the constitutional presumption of innocence. He reserves all rights under existing laws to seek appropriate legal remedies against those who have maliciously and without basis imputed wrongdoing upon him,” he added.
