Cops using CCTV footage to find missing beauty contestant Geneva Lopez, BF

Authorities are looking at the CCTV footage of the vehicle used by Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga contestant Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen who were reported missing on June 22.

In Oscar Oida’s 24 Oras report on Wednesday, the police are in the process of backtracking the locations the couple went before their abandoned sport utility vehicle (SUV) was found burning along a road in Capas, Tarlac. 

The burnt remains of Lopez’s  belongings were also found inside the charred wreck of the SUV on Saturday.

Some of the CCTV footage in the possession of the police were captured in Angeles, Pampanga, where the couple resides.

Prior to their disappearance, Lopez and Cohen were supposed to visit a property in the town of Capas in Tarlac they were planning to purchase.

The CCTV showed that the SUV was leaving from their residence in Barangay Malabanias until it reached the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

“Ito’y magandang susi para maresolba ang ginagawang investigation ng kapulisan lalo na ang Capas police station,” said P/Major Vicky Tamayo, Angeles Police Station commander.

(This could be the key we need to solve the ongoing police investigation, especially the Capas Police Station.)

Meanwhile, the Capas Fire Station submitted debris samples of the SUV to its national headquarters to determine the cause of the fire.

“Ang concentration (ng sunog),’yung location parang sa driver side, sa front, tsaka ‘yung engine bay. ‘Yun ang totally burned at may mga signs na doon ang pinakamataas na temperature na nakita nila,” Capas Fire Marshal Rustico Tayag Jr. said.

(The concentration of the fire, the location, seems to be on the driver's side, at the front, and the engine bay. These were totally burnt and there are signs that these  had the highest temperature.)

Meanwhile, acquaintances of Lopez expressed their concern for the missing beauty pageant contestant who was supposed to join the Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga (MPP) event on Wednesday

“Knowing her, napaka on time niya lagi kaya nagtaka kaming lahat nang all of a sudden during our last rehearsals di siya nakarating,” said Lee Basilio Gozun, MPP Q&A mentor.

(Knowing her, she is always on time. That is why we are wondering why she was unable to make it in our last rehearsals.)

Lopez is among the official candidates of Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga 2024. She is representing the town of Sto.Tomas in her province.

This year will also be Lopez’s last chance to participate in the competition.

“She is one of the strongest candidates. Even last year she ended in the Top 5. Ganun siya ka positive and makikita mo sa kanya na even though hindi niya na win yung crown last year, yung positivity nasa kanya. She’s very kind, she’s a very sweet girl. Kaya nakakapanghinayang talaga,” said Rowena Aguilar Laughlin, MPP provincial director.

(She is one of the strongest candidates. Even last year she ended in the Top 5. She is a positive person and we can see that although she did not win last year, she is very kind, she’s a very sweet girl. That’s why we are saddened [by her absence].)

“Malungkot po siyempre. As much as gusto mo mag enjoy minsan naiisip mo kung nasaan na siya. Sana po mahanap na siya or kung nasaan man siya ngayon ay safe siya,” MPP bet Francine Galang Miclat said

(I am sad because as much as I want to enjoy the pageant, I sometimes wonder where she is. I hope she is found or she is safe wherever she is.)

GMA Integrated News has sought comments from Lopez’s family but they said they are not ready to face the media yet.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Embassy has been notified of their missing countryman. They are also coordinating with Philippine authorities. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News