‘Slam dunk’ case? The brutal killing of a female cop and her son

MANILA, Philippines – A look at Diane Marie Mollenido’s Facebook account shows a mother who loved spending time with her three children: Jeyan Xyle, John Ysmael, and Zabrina. 

Just last December, Diane Marie — a Police Senior Master Sergeant — was having the time of her life with John Ysmael, Zabrina, and other family members in Ilocos Norte as they traversed through the famous sand dunes of Paoay. 

“Every day is an opportunity to make happy memories with them,” Diane Marie wrote in a 2023 post. 

However, that Ilocos Norte adventure proved to be one of their last trips together following the brutal killing of Diane Marie, 38, and John Ysmael, 8. 

The mother and son were killed in Novaliches, Quezon City, over what police believe was a car scam, with car agent Pia Katrina Panganiban and her husband Christian Panganiban, a dismissed police officer, tagged as primary suspects.

A total of four suspects have been arrested, including their helper, Gil Dy Jr., and Christian’s sister, Maribel Panganiban. 

“Based on our investigation, this is considered case closed and charges will be filed,” Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in a mix of Filipino and English in a press briefing on Tuesday, February 3. 

“I think this is a slam dunk case,” he added. “In my view, this case is already finished. There’s a certainty of conviction.” 

What happened

Diane Marie and John Ysmael went missing on January 16 after they met Pia Katrina and Christian at the Panganiban’s home in Novaliches for a car transaction. The policewoman was a wedding sponsor of the couple. 

The mother and son were later found dead, with Diane Marie’s remains discovered in a creek in Pulilan, Bulacan, on January 24 and John Ysmael’s body recovered in a farm in Victoria, Tarlac, on January 29. 

According to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Anthony Aberin, Diane Marie wanted to buy a Mistubishi Montero, paying Pia Katrina an initial sum of P550,000 on December 18. 

To complete the remaining balance, Diane Marie put her Toyota Innova up for sale, enlisting Pia Katrina as her agent. The Innova sold for P450,000 on January 16.

But instead of returning home in their new vehicle, the Mollenidos were killed. 

Diane Marie was allegedly shot in the head by Christian, while John Ysmael was allegedly suffocated to death by the couple with a plastic bag over his head. 

“Part of our investigation is what went wrong on the night of [January] 16? It turned out the Montero was non-existent,” said Aberin, adding the Panganibans have been involved in a “string” of estafa cases. 

“It appears that they had a plan to carry out the crime.”

What made it worse

Remulla described the Panganiban couple as having “psychopathic” tendencies for having executed the crime with their three children around, even bringing them along in their Toyota Fortuner when the suspects disposed of the victims’ bodies.

The couple, Remulla said, had told their children that they were headed to Baguio but turned around on the way and dumped the bodies in Tarlac and Bulacan with Dy’s help. 

From there, the Panganiban family stayed at a motel in Fairview then travelled to Pansol, Laguna, before they returned home. 

“They have psychopathic, criminal tendencies because they have no conscience,” Remulla said. “What kind of mind do you have, what kind of heart do you have to even involve your child in the disposal and [execution] of the crime? That’s what shocked all of us — the children were present. They were at the scene of the crime.” 

“The children were in a room. They didn’t see the crime. They heard it. They definitely heard it because their house is small. [Diane Marie] was shot first, then [John Ysmael] was brought to a room and his head was covered with plastic until he died, and their bodies were wrapped.

“They’re minors, so they can hardly corroborate what happened, but we’re certain they were in the house when the killings took place,” Remulla added. 

“They know almost nothing. We even have a video of them leaving the motel — the children looked like they were just playing around, completely unaware of what was really happening.” 

Remulla said the Panganiban children are now in the custody of their next of kin. 

What’s next

Pia Katrina vehemently denied the crime when she was arrested, instead claiming that it was Diane Marie’s estranged husband, John Mollenido, who killed the policewoman and her son. 

John was put under restrictive custody as a person of interest after Central Luzon police filed a complaint for obstruction of justice against him following his decision to have the victims’ remains cremated along with their clothes, which could have been used as evidence. 

“He video-called. He made ninang kneel. He said, ‘You’re worthless. You’re greedy when it comes to money. All of your properties will be mine once you’re gone.’ I heard the child crying,” said Pia Katrina in Filipino. 

But Dy identified the Panganiban couple as the suspects as he tearfully detailed what transpired on January 16, saying he only cooperated after being threatened by Christian.

Christian, according to the police, has a record for kidnapping and serious illegal detention. He was dismissed for grave neglect of duty after going absent without leave in 2017. 

Dy said he was called to the Panganiban’s house on the evening of January 16 and was asked to wait in the garage for further instructions. After a few hours, Dy heard a gunshot, entered the house, and saw Diane Marie’s lifeless body after being shot by Christian. 

“Pia Katrina’s husband told me, ‘Don’t tell anyone about this. You’ll be next.’ That’s why I was forced to help. It’s very painful. The next thing they did was wrap her up. Then the couple carried the child and brought him to the storage room. He’s already dead,” Dy told reporters in Filipino. 

“I also have children. I’m here for my conscience. I came forward. I also have children and I’m afraid because of something I didn’t do. My conscience is clear. It was them who did it, nobody else.” 

Christian’s sister, Maribel, who was at the scene of the crime, also surrendered. 

NCRPO spokesperson Police Major Hazel Asilo said the case is already considered solved as the police have gathered sufficient evidence to charge the four suspects.

In John’s case, Asilo said his restrictive custody has nothing do to with his wife’s homicide. 

“He’s no longer involved there. The family of Diane Mollenido filed a motion to dismiss the case,” Asilo told News5’s Ted Failon and DJ Chacha program.

The suspects, Asilo said, face a complaint for two counts of robbery with homicide and theft.

Diane Marie and John Ysmael were laid to rest at the Heritage Park in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig on Thursday, February 5. – Rappler.com