BARANGAY STA. LUCIA, CAPAS, TARLAC — Two former police officers, now absent without official leave (AWOL), are implicated in the disappearance and suspected deaths of Geneva Lopez, a 27-year-old beauty pageant candidate from Pampanga, and her Israeli boyfriend, Yitzhak Cohen, aged 37. The development surfaced after agents from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group found two bodies on Saturday morning in a secluded part of Barangay Sta. Lucia, believed to be those of Lopez and Cohen.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a recent radio interview, the bodies, likely the missing couple, are currently being autopsied by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at the request of the family. The investigation has revealed that one of the suspects had acted as a middleman during a land transaction the couple was involved in before their disappearance on June 21. They had planned to meet an unidentified land seller but vanished, leaving their sports utility vehicle burned.
Abalos noted that witnesses recently identified the grave site in Tarlac. Further details are expected to be released next Monday as investigations continue. The suspects, including the two former officers, are already in police custody, and other persons of interest are being scrutinized. Emphasizing the government's commitment to justice, Abalos stated, "This heartbreaking discovery underscores our unwavering resolve to bring justice to all victims. We will not rest until those responsible are held accountable. Justice will be served."