Killing of beauty candidate, Israeli BF could be motivated by land dispute — PNP

By Jet D. Antolin

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said the killing of a beauty contestant and her Israeli fiancé could be motivated by a land dispute.

Over the weekend, authorities found the remains of beauty queen Geneva Lopez and her Israeli fiancé Yitzhak Cohen, who have been missing for two weeks.

Two ex-cops identified as Michael Guiang and Rommel Abuso and a civilian named Jeffrey Santos, all allegedly linked to the murder, have been arrested over a different crime.Two other suspects remain at large.

Earlier, two individuals who voluntarily surrendered helped in locating the bodies of the victims. In a press conference on Monday, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco said the couple was possibly killed due to a land dispute with Guiang. Francisco said Lopez was already seizing the land that Guiang pawned to her.

Guiang and his cohorts allegedly arranged a fake meet up to gun down the couple. Francisco said they are set to file murder charges against Guiang and the other suspects.

“Yung mag-nobya ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makipagkita kay Guiang dahil si Guiang ay may isinanglang lupa kay Geneva at gusto nang bawiin ni Guiang yung lupa kay Geneva . Sinabi ni Guiang na may buyer din yung lupang isinangla niya at ipapakilala niya ito kay Geneva,” Francisco said.