The Mutya ng Pilipinas organization appealed for a “swift resolution” of the case of its local candidate Geneva Sarita Lopez, who has been reported missing with her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen since June 21.
The pageant organization released a statement on the matter through its Facebook page on Tuesday, June 25, saying they have been in close coordination with the franchisee of Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga where Lopez is an official candidate.
“We are genuinely concerned about the safety of Ms. Geneva Sarita Lopez, one of the official candidates for this year’s Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga 2024, who has been reported missing since June 21, 2024,” it said.
“While we call upon law enforcement agencies for a swift resolution to this case, we remain hopeful for Geneva’s safety as well as her Israeli fiance, her companion on the day they both went missing,” it added.
A Facebook page dedicated to finding the couple was also set up under the name “Finding Geneva and Yitshak.” It was announced through its posts that a P250,000 reward will be given to anyone who can provide useful information that will lead to finding the pair.
Lopez and Cohen were last seen on June 21 after they went to Tarlac to inspect an agricultural land and meet the middleman in the real estate deal. The vehicle the couple used was then found burning in the early morning of June 22.
The middleman has given a sworn statement to the police, saying he parted ways with the pair after inspecting the property.