Land dispute led to the killing of beauty pageant bet, Israeli BF in Tarlac: PNP

THE PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) yesterday said a land dispute led to the recent killing of a beauty pageant contestant and her Israeli boyfriend in Tarlac.

CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco also tagged two former policemen, Michael Guiang and Rommel Abuso, as the primary suspects in the murder of Geneva Lopez and Israeli Yitzhak Cohen.

The victims were reported missing last June 21 when they went to Capas, Tarlac. Officials earlier said the two went to the area to check a property they were planning to buy.

Their remains were recovered last Saturday at a quarry site in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Capas based on information from one of the suspects, who is cooperating with the police.

In a press conference at Camp Crame, Francisco said Guiang pawned a property to Lopez. He said Lopez wanted to seize the property but Guiang refused.

Francisco said Guiang even informed Lopez that Abuso wanted to buy the property.

The two sides met in Barangay Armenia in Capas where the two former policemen shot dead the victims.

“Guiang didn’t want to surrender the lot he pawned to Geneva, that’s the meat (of this case),” said Francisco.

Francisco said the murder of Lopez and Cohen was planned by the two former policemen.

“Based on our investigation, a day before (the murder), Guiang and Abuso talked about what they would do to the lovers. There was a plan of killing the lovers,” said Francisco.

“We are collating more evidence and statements because we are sure that this is the root cause, the motive behind the killing of the lovers,” Francisco also said.

The two ex-policemen were arrested along with another suspect while two others surrendered, including the driver who turned witness. Two other suspects are at large.

“The two policemen planned this and they are at the center of our investigation… He (Guiang) is the main suspect and Abuso is his buddy, the two shot the victims,” said Francisco.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. presented Guiang and Abuso, who both previously held the rank of patrolmen, during the press conference at Camp Crame.

He said Guiang and Abuso were dismissed from the service in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Abalos said the PNP