The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now investigating several persons of interest in the disappearance of beauty pageant contestant Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend, Yitshak Cohen.

The investigation follows the discovery of a white sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Barangay Tibag.

The couple reportedly used the vehicle when they visited a property in Capas, Tarlac, on June 21, 2024.

Police visited the registered owner's address but learned that the SUV had been sold to another owner.

No additional details about the persons of interest were provided by the police.

MIDDLEMAN

Further investigation revealed that a former police officer from Angeles City, Pampanga acted as the middleman in the land sale.

"It turned out din po, base po sa ginawang background check po ng ating PNP, na itong si middle [man] ay isa pong dating police na naka-assign sa Angeles City," PCOL. Jean Fajardo, PNP Spokesperson, said.

The middleman said he accompanied the couple during their visit to the property but parted ways afterward.

"So, ito po ngayon ang ating direksyon. Kailangan din po nating maimbestigahan kung si middleman po ay nagsasabi po ng totoo," Fajardo added.

A Special Investigation Task Force has been formed to focus on the case.

BACKGROUND

Lopez, 26, and Cohen, 37, have been missing for several days, as reported by the womans’ family in Angeles City.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) earlier responded to a burning SUV on San Jose Road in Barangay Cristo Rey, Capas, Tarlac and found in the vehicle an ATM card and ID picture of Lopez.

Cohen's family has offered a P250,000 reward to anyone who can provide information about the whereabouts of the couple.

“If anyone saw or know anything we are really looking to recover our brother and his fiance and we are offering this money in return for valid information to find my brother and his fiance,” Cohen's brother said.