Israeli Embassy mourns tragic death of beauty contestant, BF

The Israeli Embassy on Sunday expressed sadness at the passing of Israeli citizen Yitshak Cohen and his girlfriend, beauty contestant Geneva Lopez in Tarlac.

Their bodies were discovered on Saturday morning in Barangay Sta. Lucia in the municipality of Capas.

"The Embassy of Israel in Manila is deeply saddened by the tragic discovery of the cadavers of Israeli citizen Yitshak Cohen and his partner, Geneva Sarita Lopez, in Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Capas, Tarlac," the embassy said in a statement.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families during this incredibly difficult time," the statement read.

The embassy thanked Philippine authorities "for their relentless efforts in investigating and locating the couple."

"We are confident that the authorities will thoroughly investigate this tragic incident and bring those responsible to justice," it added.

The embassy said it is in touch with Cohen's family and will assist in repatriating his remains back to Israel.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Yitshak Cohen and Geneva Sarita Lopez. May their memories be a blessing," it added.

Lopez, a contestant at Mutya ng Pilipinas - Pampanga, and Cohen were last seen on June 21. They went to Capas, Tarlac to look at a property they were planning to buy.

Their SUV was later seen burning the next day along a road in Capas with no sign of its occupants.

On Saturday morning, by virtue of a search warrant, authorities went to a quarry site in Barangay Sta. Lucia where two bodies were exhumed.

The National Bureau of Investigation on Saturday evening confirmed that the bodies belonged to Lopez and Cohen.

The NBI conducted autopsy on the remains and found that the victims had two gunshot wounds each.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago on Sunday said an issue regarding land could have been a motive for the crime.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Saturday said two suspects, police officers who took absences without leave, were placed under police custody.

Santiago said evidence is strong against these two suspects. —KG, GMA Integrated News