LAST June 21st, 27-year-old Geneva Lopez and her partner, 37-year-old Yitzhak Cohen, were reported missing. 

The former, Lopez, is a Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga 2024 contestant, while Cohen is of Israeli descent. 

On July 6, two bodies were found in a quarry in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Capas, Tarlac. Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda has since confirmed them to be Lopez and Cohen based on the clothes they had on and the items in their possession. 

An autopsy and DNA test were also done to confirm their identities.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) explained that it was the driver of the SUV, who carried the dead bodies to where they were buried, that confessed to the crime.  Under the alias “Jess,” he has since been labeled a person of interest (POI.)

Along with their bodies, a burned SUV was also found last June 22nd, wherein police found burned documents that belonged to Lopez. The Times Israel noted that they had plans to meet with someone they were to discuss a real estate deal with.

Yaniv Cohen, the brother of Yitzhak Cohen, explained that he had borrowed money from the person they were meeting with to help with his mother’s illness and that he’d planned to give him land to pay off the debt.

“It’s another scam that has already happened before; we are discovering that this is not an uncommon occurrence,” said Cohen’s brother, as per the Philippine News Agency.

“It’s their way of targeting people who become successful business people.”

Geneva and Cohen then went from Angeles City, Pampanga, to meet with this debtor.

“Let us pray for their souls,” Pineda wrote.

“My condolences to their families. I will continue to assist in seeking justice for Geneva and Yitzhak.”

Possible suspects

Last July 4th, GMA Network cited Police Major General Leo Francisco, the head of the CIDG saying that there are currently seven POIs in the disappearance of the couple.

One of these is a former policeman, who was believed to be the middleman in the exchange. Francisco reports that the POI had spoken with the couple, but were no longer in contact after they visited the site that Cohen was to give to them. 

The next time he heard about them was when their vehicle was found.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also noted two police officers in custody; they had both taken unauthorized absences and were found in possession of a number of guns. They also knew where the bodies of the couple had been buried. 

They have since been put in custody of the CIDG.

Another POI is the driver of the SUV, Jess, who has since been placed as a state witness. He reports that he was hired by the two policemen, and was then surprised when he found two dead bodies at the back of his car. 

He then followed the orders of the two policemen in fear of his own life.

The couple were both found with multiple bullet wounds across their bodies. 

At this time, the police are also looking at three possible motives behind the crime, though have not yet disclosed what these are, as they are still waiting for a formal announcement from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG.)

Since their discovery, the Israeli Embassy has offered to assist in transferring Cohen’s body back to his hometown, Israel. 

Both heads of the DILG and PNP have assured that justice would be served for this couple, with DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Junior noting that such heinous crimes had no place in any community.