MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla officially declared the investigation into the brutal killing of Police Senior Master Sgt. Diane Mollenido and her son, John Ysmael, as “case closed” on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
The announcement followed the surrender of a fourth suspect—the sister of the primary suspect—on Monday, which completed the police’s grip on the alleged perpetrators.
The Fatal Car Scam The investigation by the Southern Police District (SPD) revealed that the tragedy stemmed from an attempted car-selling scam.
- The Encounter: Mollenido and her son visited the home of car agent Pia Katrina Panganiban and her husband, dismissed police officer Christian Panganiban, on January 16 to sell Mollenido’s vehicle and complete a payment for a new SUV.
- The Crime: Authorities allege that the Panganibans shot Mollenido in the head and suffocated her son by covering his head with a plastic bag.
- The Family “Trip”: In a chilling detail, Remulla revealed that the suspects stored the bodies in their stockroom before loading them into a car alongside their three young children (aged 6, 8, and 10) for what appeared to be a family trip. They eventually dumped the bodies in Tarlac and Bulacan before staying at motels in Fairview and Laguna.
The Suspects and Arrests
- Primary Suspects: Pia and Christian Panganiban were arrested on January 30 after blood traces were found in their home.
- History of Crime: Christian Panganiban had a prior record for kidnapping, while Pia was previously flagged for estafa.
- Collaborators: A house helper was also arrested, and Christian’s sister surrendered on February 2.
Ongoing Investigation into the Husband Despite declaring the case “closed” in terms of identifying the perpetrators, the victim’s husband, Police Senior Master Sgt. John Mollenido, remains under restrictive custody.
- Allegations: Pia Panganiban claimed in a sworn statement that the husband was involved, an accusation his legal counsel has vehemently denied, maintaining his client’s innocence.
- Forensics: Police are awaiting a cyber warrant to conduct digital forensic tests on several recovered phones and are still searching for the murder weapon.
Discovery of the Victims The body of Diane Mollenido was found in a creek in Bulacan on January 24, while John Ysmael was discovered in a calamansi farm in Tarlac on January 29.
Secretary Remulla emphasized that formal charges for murder and kidnapping are being finalized against the suspects. The children of the suspects have been turned over to their next of kin.