POLICE reported Saturday that the remains of beauty queen Geneva Lopez and her Israeli fiancé Yitzhak Cohen, who have been missing for two weeks, have been found.
Their bodies were both in the state of decomposition when found in a remote quarry site in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Capas, Tarlac, said the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO).
Police Lt. Col. Librado Manarang Jr, chief of the Capas Municipal Police Station, said relatives of Lopez and Cohen have identified the bodies, which were found after a key witness came forward with information crucial to the case.
Authorities will conduct further investigation, including autopsies to determine cause of death as well as DNA testing and analysis.
Lopez and Cohen were last seen on June 21 riding an SUV towards Tarlac for a transaction on a parcel of land in the province.
The SUV they were in was found burned and abandoned in Barangay Cristo Rey in Capas in the early morning of June 22.
The Philippine National Police have identified seven persons of interest in the case, including the middleman or agent for the property the couple were reportedly buying.
Persons of interest nabbed
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) reported that two former police officers, a real estate middleman and another person of interest allegedly involved in the disappearance of Geneva Lopez, a Kapampangan beauty queen, and her Israeli fiancé Yitzhak Cohen in Tarlac were apprehended past 1 a.m. on Saturday.
Police said persons of interest are people whom authorities are looking at in relation to an investigation but who are not yet considered suspects.
Authorities recovered firearms, ammunition and a hand grenade in the operation under Oplan Paglalansag Omega, which is the government’s campaign against private armed groups and loose firearms.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos confirmed the arrest of Michael Angelo Guiang for violations of RA 10591 — the Comprehensive Firearm and Ammunition Regulatory Act — and RA 9516, and of Rommel Abuza for violation of RA 10591.
Police were able to confirm their identities through their clothing and other items.
“Malungkot ko po na ibinabalita sa inyo na natagpuan na ang mga bangkay ng kabalen natin na si Geneva Lopez at ang kanyang kasintahan na si Yitshak Cohen sa isang lugar sa Sta. Lucia sa Capas, Tarlac pagkatapos silang mawala ng dalawang Linggo,” the post said.
“Kinumpirma po ito ng pulis base sa kasuotan at gamit ng mga biktima,” it added.
