The husband of a slain policewoman and her child has been cleared of all charges after authorities found insufficient evidence to support allegations linking him to the crime, accoridng to report by RH Val Gonzales.
Police Senior Master Sergeant (PSMS) John Mollenido, husband of the late PSMS Diane Marie Mollenido, was absolved following the dismissal of accusations that he ordered the killing of his wife and their child.
The allegations stemmed from the statement of car agent and allegedly prime suspect in the case, Pia Katrina Panganiban, who claimed that Mollenido—her godfather—was the mastermind of the murders.
Investigators, however, said there was no substantial evidence to corroborate her claim.
According to a DZRH News source, the family of the victim has also withdrawn its complaint against John Mollenido.
Meanwhile, four suspects have been identified in the killing of PSMS Diane Marie Mollenido and 8-year-old child. They are Pia Katrina Panganiban, her husband and dismissed Caloocan police officer Christian Panganiban, Maribel Suarez Panganiban, and Gil Valdemoro Jr.
Authorities said the last accomplice who is Maribel is the sister of Christian Panganiban and sister-in-law of alleged mastermind Pia Katrina, will be presented for inquest proceedings. Maribel, who is currently in the custody of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU), is scheduled to be presented before the prosecutor in connection with the brutal killing of the policewoman and her child.
The development followed the surrender of Maribel to the QCPD and the Special Investigation Task Group, on Monday, February 3.
Maribel admitted that she cleaned the crime scene and helped wrap the bodies of PSMS Diane Marie Mollenido and her eight-year-old child, John Ysmael Mollenido.
In her statement, Maribel said she decided to surrender because she could no longer bear the weight of her conscience over the crime allegedly committed by her brother and sister-in-law.
Meanwhile, based on the judicial affidavit of co-suspect Gil Valdemoro Jr., Maribel allegedly pressed down on the child’s chest while another suspect covered the child’s face, leading to the child’s death.
Accoridng to the authorities, all the suspects are facing charges of robbery with double homicide and theft. The case remains under investigation as authorities prepare the remaining suspects for further legal proceedings.
The suspects are expected to be formally presented in a press conference today, Tuesday led by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, where authorities are likely to reveal more information on the suspects’ roles, motives, and the progress of the ongoing investigation.
