'Middleman', 6 others tagged in disappearance of beauty queen, Israeli fiance

The Philippine National Police has identified seven "persons of interest" in the disappearance of Kapampangan beauty queen Geneva Lopez and her Israeli fiancé Yitshak Cohen during their visit to Tarlac on June 21.

Authorities also confirmed that among the 7 persons of interest is the "middleman" whom the victims met in Capas, Tarlac before they were reported missing.

Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said: “He admitted that before the two victims were reported missing, he was with them. Definitely, the information he provided to the police will undergo validation and vetting to confirm the truthfulness of his statements.”

The identification of the persons of interest was based on a combination of backtracking, ocular inspections, testimonies from witnesses, and fingerprints recovered from an abandoned white SUV in Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City on June 30.

Fajardo added, “He was considered a person of interest because he himself admitted and these statements of his were reduced into writing. He claims to have seen and been with the missing victims prior to their reported disappearance. In terms of being persons of interest, it is due to his potential knowledge or information prior to the disappearance of the two victims.”

The victims, last seen riding the SUV towards Tarlac for a land transaction on June 21, remain missing. The SUV used by the missing couple was also recovered burnt and abandoned in Barangay Cristo Rey, Capas, Tarlac at 2:36 am on June 22.

The reward for any information regarding the whereabouts of the Kapampangan beauty queen and her Israeli fiancé has now reached P1.5 million.

The PNP also affirmed that once all evidence is solidified, an “airtight” case will be filed against those implicated in the disappearance of the victims.