15-8-2024 (MANILA) The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has filed two counts of murder against five individuals in connection with the deaths of beauty queen Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend, Yitzhak Cohen. The charges were formally submitted to the Department of Justice on Wednesday.
Col. Thomas Valmonte, the CIDG’s legal officer, declined to reveal the identities of the accused. He confirmed that the charges stemmed from a premeditated plan involving multiple parties.
“There was a meeting among the suspects, which led to the allegation of conspiracy. They coordinated and planned the actual killing of the two victims,” Col. Valmonte stated.
According to Valmonte, the group’s involvement varied, with two suspects directly responsible for the shooting, another assisting in the disposal and burial of the bodies, and others involved in the conspiracy. The investigation suggests the motive behind the killings was related to a dispute over the victims’ property.
“Based on our investigation, the respondents had pawned a piece of land to the victims and later sought to reclaim it. However, the victims were unwilling to return it without repayment, as they had already provided money for the property,” Valmonte explained.
The officer detailed how the victims were lured to a location under the pretense of meeting a buyer, where the suspects executed their plan.
Geneva Lopez’s sister, Joni, expressed the family’s determination to seek justice for her sister’s death.
“Of course, we want justice. We want everyone responsible to be held accountable; that is our main goal,” she said.
