Relatives of Geneva Lopez, a Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga 2024 candidate, and her boyfriend, Yitchak Cohen | PHOTO FROM PRESY CARREON LOPEZ FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines — The remains found in Capas, Tarlac were those of missing Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga 2024 candidate Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen, Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda said on Saturday.
According to Pineda in a Facebook post, 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.
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(I am saddened to report that the remains of our fellow Geneva Lopez and her boyfriend Yitshak Cohen were found in Sta. Lucia, Capas, Tarlac, after they went missing for two weeks.)
“Kinumpirma po ito ng pulis base sa kasuotan at gamit ng mga biktima,” it added.
(This was confirmed by police based on their clothing and the items of the victims.)
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that it will conduct an autopsy and a DNA testing and analysis on the remains.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos and PNP Chief Police General Rommel Marbil said that authorities will ensure that those who were responsible for the incident will be held accountable.
“We will not rest until those responsible are held accountable. Justice will be served,” Abalos was quoted as saying in a release of by the PNP.
“We stand firm in our pursuit of justice for Geneva and Yitshak and all victims of such heinous acts,” Marbil said in the same release.
On June 21, Lopez and Cohen went to Tarlac to meet with a middleman, who was allegedly a former police officer, with regards to a plot of agricultural land that they wanted to buy.
However, after the incident, the two were reported missing, and the vehicle that was used by the two was found burning along Capas-San Jose Road in Tarlac.
Another separate vehicle that was related to the case was found in Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City later.