2 bodies believed to be missing beauty contestant, Israeli BF found in Tarlac

Authorities on Saturday morning unearthed two bodies in a lot in Capas, Tarlac believed to be those of missing Mutya ng Pilipinas-Pampanga candidate Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen.

"Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Atty. Benhur Abalos and Philippine National Police Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil are saddened to announce the discovery of two cadavers believed to be that of missing couple Geneva Sarita Lopez and Israeli Yitshak Cohen in Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Capas, Tarlac on Saturday morning," the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said in a statement. 

The DILG added that the two cadavers were exhumed on a parcel of land within a quarry site.

"The remains of the victims were brought to Lotus Funeral located at Barangay San Vicente, Tarlac City, and will be subjected to an autopsy examination and DNA testing/analysis to confirm their identities," it said.

Earlier, the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said that a search was conducted after the Tarlac City Regional Trial Court-Branch 111 issued a warrant dated July 5, 2024.

GMA Integrated News Bulletin said Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda posted on Facebook that the remains were those of Lopez and Cohen. Pineda said the police were able to identify the bodies based on the victims' clothes and personal belongings.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the Lopez and Cohen families about the matter. As of posting time, both families were at the funeral parlor where the bodies were taken, the report added.

2 suspects under police custody

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Abalos said two suspects, police officers who took absences without leave, are now under police custody.

“Nagmula ito sa implementation ng search warrant laban sa dalawang AWOL na matagal nang pulis,” Abalos said.

(It started with the implementation of a search warrant against two cops who took AWOL for a long time.) 

“Noong sila'y nahuli at napakaraming mga baril ang nahuli sa mga ito, may detalye at testigo na naturo pa itong lugar kung saan inilibing itong dalawang bangkay,” he added.

(When they were caught, a lot of guns were retrieved from them; there was a detail and a witness that revealed the place where these two cadavers were buried.)

Abalos said the suspects were possibly involved in the deaths of the victims.

“Malamang may kinalaman ito (They're probably involved),” he said, adding that there are other people “under investigation.”

Lopez and Cohen were last seen going to Capas, Tarlac on June 21 to check on the property they were planning to purchase.

Lopez's belongings were found partially burned inside an abandoned sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Tarlac on June 22. —Jamil Santos/KG/VDV/VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News