Convictions seen by Jonvic in Mollenido, Casauay killings

The killings of a policewoman and her eight-year-old son, and that of a police sergeant in Bulacan stemmed from separate criminal plots now under prosecution, with investigators tracing one case to a fraudulent vehicle deal and the other to a fatal encounter involving multiple suspects, authorities said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Wednesday that the evidence gathered in the deaths of Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido and her son, John Ysmael, points to a botched transaction involving the supposed purchase of a second-hand Mitsubishi Montero that did not exist.

“For the amount of 450,000 pesos, the mother and child were killed,” Remulla said.

Police said Mollenido earlier gave P550,000 to the suspects and another P450,000 from the sale of her Toyota Innova to complete the deal.

She and her son were reported missing on 16 January 2026 after leaving their Quezon City residence for the transaction. Their remains were later found in separate locations in Bulacan and Tarlac. Forensic findings indicated death by asphyxia.

Suspects Pia Katrina Panganiban and Christian Suarez Panganiban had been arrested and were placed under police custody.

Authorities also took into custody Police Senior Master Sergeant John Mollenido, the husband of the slain policewoman, as part of the investigation. Criminal proceedings are ongoing.

Remulla said seven suspects in the separate killing of Staff Sergeant Renato Casauay Jr. remain at large, while four others, including Corporal Vivencio Verdadero, have been arrested

Casauay, assigned to a police anti-drug unit, was found dead in a septic tank in Malolos City, Bulacan. He was allegedly shot by one Julian “Mon” Salamat.

Investigators said CCTV footage showed Casauay with Salamat before the killing. A P1 million reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of Salamat and other suspects.

“In my view, I think this case is already closed. There is certainty of conviction in both cases,” Remulla said.

He said questionable transactions continue despite the dismantling of police syndicate groups.

“The life of every police officer is important to us. We do not treat lightly anything that happens to our police. They are doing their jobs, and the public’s trust in them is very high. We cannot allow these kinds of things to pass,” he added.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said investigators built cases from evidence collected from the start.

“Our investigators in both cases really did their job to solve the cases since Day 1. All the angles were pursued and all the pieces of evidence were obtained and meticulously reviewed to build a strong case,” he said.

“We are confident that there’s a certainty of conviction in court against those involved,” he added.

Nartatez said police operations continue to locate the remaining suspects in Casauay’s killing.

Meanwhile, National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the commission is conducting a parallel administrative investigation because a police officer is involved as a suspect.

“We are proud of the swift and thorough work of the PNP in resolving this case. But because a police officer is involved, it is Napolcom’s duty to ensure stricter, fairer, and clearer accountability,” he said.