Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. holds a press briefing at the Philippine National Police Headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City on July 8, 2024, to present two former police officers allegedly involved in the disappearance and murder of beauty contestant Geneva Lopez and her Israeli partner Yitshak Cohen. Jire Carreon, ABS-CBN News/File  

MANILA – The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Wednesday filed two counts of murder against five individuals over the death of beauty queen Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitzhak Cohen.

CIDG legal officer Col. Thomas Valmonte refused to identify the five respondents in the complaint filed before the justice department. 

“May meeting silang ginawa. That’s why mayroong allegation ng conspiracy. Nag-meeting sila at pinagplano nila ang aktwal na pagpatay sa dalawang biktima,” Valmonte said. 

“Merong dalawang yung talagang bumaril at merong isa namang kasama sa pag-dispose ng body, sa paglibing ng katawan ng dalawang biktima at merong ibang tao na kasama sa plano na sinama rin namin sa complaint,” he added. 

3 ex-policemen among persons of interest in beauty queen, fiancé's slay 

Valmonte noted that the motive of the respondents involved transactions about the property of the victims.

“Based sa investigation, iyong lupa ay sinangla ng respondents sa biktima and parang gusto bawiin nila ang lupa sa mga biktima… Yung mga biktima parang ayaw naman nilang ibigay kasi siyempre meron binigay silang pera so dapat ibalik sa kanila ang pera,” Valmonte said.

“And ang naging ploy is may bibiling iba, may buyer itong mga respondents, may buyer siya kaya napapunta itong dalawang biktima doon sa place kung saan sila nagkita, ginuide sila papunta doon sa place kung saan in-execute ang kanilang planong pagpatay,” the officer continued. 

Land dispute seen as motive for killing of beauty contestant, Israeli fiancé: PNP

Lopez’s sister Joni said they would pursue the case to get justice for her sister.

“Of course, gusto namin justice, yung lahat ng may gawa nito managot, yun lang naman ang pinakagusto namin,” she said.

Labi ng beauty queen na si Geneva Lopez, na-cremate na