An eight-year-old boy, the son of a slain policewoman, died from asphyxia caused by suffocation, Philippine police said on Thursday, confirming one of the most disturbing details to emerge from a case that has shocked law enforcement circles and the wider public.
The child, John Ysmael Mollenido, was found dead nearly two weeks after he and his mother went missing in central Luzon. His mother, Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido, 38, had earlier been discovered with a gunshot wound to the head, prompting a nationwide investigation and an intensifying manhunt.
SOCO: Child’s Face Tightly Taped
Initial findings from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), relayed by the Southern Police District (SPD), concluded that the boy died due to asphyxia by suffocation.
“Batay sa paunang findings ng SOCO, ang sanhi ng pagkamatay ay asphyxia by suffocation. Ayon sa paunang ulat, mahigpit na nakatape ang mukha ng bata,” said SPD spokesperson Police Lieutenant Margaret Panaga.
The child’s body was found wrapped heavily in plastic and abandoned in a calamansi farm in Barangay Maluid, Victoria, Tarlac, a rural setting that contrasted starkly with the urban trail investigators have been following.
Mother Found Dead Days Earlier in Bulacan
The boy’s mother, a serving police officer assigned to the National Capital Region Police Office’s Regional Personnel and Records Management Division, was found dead on January 24 in a creek along the Pulilan–Baliuag Bypass Road in Barangay Dulong Malabon, Pulilan, Bulacan.
SOCO examinations determined that PSMS Mollenido died from a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities have not disclosed the calibre of the firearm or when exactly she was killed, citing the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Last Seen After Meeting Car Sales Agent
Police investigators said the mother and son were last seen alive on January 16, after meeting a car sales agent in Quezon City to follow up on the sale of a vehicle.
The agent — described by police as a godchild of the slain officer — has since disappeared and is now considered a person of interest.
On January 29, authorities obtained and served a search warrant at the agent’s residence in Quezon City, where blood traces were discovered. Forensic analysis is under way to determine whether the traces match either of the victims.
Father Identifies Child, Faces Scrutiny
The child’s body was positively identified by his father, Police Senior Master Sergeant John Mollenido, who had earlier reported his wife and son missing on January 19.
Acknowledging questions surrounding his past relationship with the victim, the father said he understood why authorities were scrutinising him as part of standard procedure.
“Kasi ‘yun nga, dati kong asawa. May mga bagay na di namin napagkakaunawaan. Naawa ako kasi doon sa sinapit niya, di naman niya deserve yung ganung ano,” he said, expressing sympathy for his former wife.
PNP Orders Manhunt, Vows Justice
The Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership has ordered a full-scale investigation and an intensified manhunt for all those responsible.
PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. condemned the killings in unusually strong terms.
“Strong words of condemnation are not enough for what they did to one of our own. We will not let this pass and we will hold accountable all those involved,” he said. “We will get to the bottom of this case, and we will make sure that justice is served.”
The PNP said it has extended financial assistance, security support and counselling to the family, as fellow officers continue to mourn the loss of a colleague and her young son.
A Case That Resonates Beyond the Police Force
Beyond its immediate criminal dimensions, the double killing has cast a harsh light on the risks faced by police families and the vulnerabilities surrounding everyday transactions, such as private vehicle sales.
For many ordinary citizens, the case has become a grim reminder that violence can intrude without warning, cutting across provinces and social roles. For the PNP, it is a test of resolve — to pursue accountability with the same force it promises to the public, even when the victims are among its own.
