PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo (PNA Photo filed by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil has ordered the creation of a special investigation task group (SITG) to look into the disappearance of Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga 2024 candidate Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitchak Cohen.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the 'SITG Genesaac' would be composed of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), Forensic Group (FG), among others.
She said they have identified several persons of interest (POIs) in the case.
“May mga identified na persons of interest sa ngayon di ako makapagbigay na numero nakiusap po ang CIDG na huwag muna magbigay ng detalye. (We have identified persons of interest but I cannot give a number right now. The CIDG requested to withhold the details for now) But we are pursuing very good leads," she said.
She said the couple was last seen at about 2 p.m. on June 21. Their gray Nissan Terra sport utility vehicle (SUV) was found burning along the Capas-San Jose Road in Cristo Rey village at 2:36 a.m. on June 22.
Earlier reports said Lopez and Cohen met a "middleman" in Tarlac to check the 20.5-hectare agricultural land they intended to buy.
"The HPG went to the address indicated in the vehicle's certificate of registration but based on the initial interview, its registered owner said the vehicle has been transferred to another person. Per my talks with HPG director Brig. Gen. Jay Cumigad, they would go to the address of the person who now owns the vehicle so they can trace its history and how it was obtained by the persons of interest whom we have identified," Fajardo said.
"It turned out based on the PNP's background check na itong si middleman ay dati pong pulis na naka assign sa (that the middleman was a former police officer assigned to the) Angeles CPS (City Police Station). So yun direction natin ngayon na tinitingnan at kailangan din natin imbestigahan kung ito nga bang middleman ay nagsasabi ng totoo dahil nag-execute naman siya ng (That is our direction now, we have to investigate as to whether this middleman is telling the truth because he executed an) affidavit,” she said.
Earlier, Capas police chief Lt. Col. Librado Maranang Jr. said police had examined what seemed like a burned cell phone or tablet found inside the SUV.
He said the gadget was brought to the regional Anti-Cybercrime Office at Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga for forensic investigation.
However, he said data could no longer be retrieved from the gadget because it was completely burned. (PNA)
