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Bodies found in suspected burial site of missing beauty queen, fiancé

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Gracie Rutao

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720237446813capas-tarlac.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Police inspect a quarry site in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Capas, Tarlac on July 6, 2024.</span></span></span></div><p>TARLAC <strong>(3rd UPDATE) </strong>— Authorities have found the remains of beauty queen Geneva Lopez and her Israeli fiancé Yitzhak Cohen, who have been missing for two weeks.</p><p>Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) unearthed the decomposed bodies of a man and a woman in a remote quarry site in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Capas, Tarlac on Saturday morning.</p><p>Police Lt. Col. Librado Manarang Jr, chief of the Capas Municipal Police Station, said relatives of Lopez and Cohen have identified the bodies, which were found after a key witness came forward with information crucial to the case.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/7/5/missing-beauty-queen-israeli-fiance-s-families-seek-nbi-help-1044">READ: Missing beauty queen, Israeli fiance’s families seek NBI help</a></div><p>Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda also confirmed that the bodies of Lopez and Cohen had been found, citing reports from the police.</p><p>&quot;Kinumpirma po ito ng pulis base sa kasuotan at gamit ng mga biktima (Police confirmed this based on clothing and their personal possessions),&quot; he said in a post carried by the Pampanga public information office.</p><p>&quot;Ipagdasal po natin ang kanilang kaluluwa. Nakikiramay po ako sa mga pamilya. Patuloy po akong tutulong sa paghahanap ng hustisya para kay Geneva at [Yitzhak],&quot; he also said.</p><p>(We will pray for their souls. We condole with the family. We will continue to help seek justice for them.)</p><p>Authorities will conduct further investigation, including autopsies to determine cause of death as well as DNA testing and analysis.</p><p>Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos asserted the government&#x27;s commitment to justice.</p><p> &quot;This heartbreaking discovery underscores our unwavering resolve to bring justice to all victims. We will not rest until those responsible are held accountable. Justice will be served,&quot; Abalos said in a statement.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/7/6/persons-of-interest-nabbed-for-guns-grenade-1401"><strong>Persons of interest in disappearance of beauty queen, fiancé nabbed for guns</strong></a></div><div><strong>MISSING SINCE JUNE 21</strong></div><p>Lopez and Cohen were last seen on June 21 riding an SUV <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;--darkreader-inline-color:#bfb9b1;--darkreader-inline-bgcolor:#181a1b;display:inline !important" data-darkreader-inline-color="" data-darkreader-inline-bgcolor=""></span>towards Tarlac for a transaction on a parcel of land in the province.</p><p>The SUV they were in was found burned and abandoned in Barangay Cristo Rey in Capas in the early morning of June 22.</p><p>The Philippine National Police have identified seven persons of interest in the case, including the middleman or agent for the property the couple were reportedly buying.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/7/4/-middleman-6-others-tagged-in-disappearance-of-beauty-queen-israeli-fiance-1641">READ: &#x27;Middleman&#x27;, 6 others tagged in disappearance of beauty queen, Israeli fiance</a></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) unearthed the decomposed bodies of a man and a woman in a remote quarry site in Capas, Tarlac on Saturday morning.</p>

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) unearthed the decomposed bodies of a man and a woman in a remote quarry site in Capas, Tarlac on Saturday morning.