Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga bet Geneva Lopez. Image: Facebook/Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga
Days after the confirmation of her death, Geneva Lopez’s loved ones are still grieving for her and her Israeli fiance, Yitzhak Cohen, lamenting the fate that befell them.
The couple’s remains currently lie in Lopez’s hometown, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga. Their burial is scheduled this Friday.
In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN, Lopez’s brother, whose name was withheld, said that the family has not yet come to terms with the victims’ gruesome deaths, as they called for justice to be served on the suspects responsible for the killings.
Police are now looking into the possible involvement of two former policemen – identified as Michael Angelo Guiang and Rommel Abuzo – who were allegedly involved in “mortgage scheme.”
“Gusto kong malaman bakit may mga taong masasama ang loob na kayang pumatay ng tao. Sana ma-realize mo na yung taong kinuhanan mo ng buhay, hindi niya deserve yun—mawala nang maaga. Marami siyang pangarap,” lamented the beauty queen’s brother in the interview.
“Bakit natin kailangan pumatay para sa pansarili nating interes? Inalisan niyo sila ng kaibigan, inalisan niyo sila ng kapamilya, ng kapatid,” he added.
Lopez’s brother described the late Mutya ng Pilipinas candidate as “lovable” with a positive outlook in life. He said that beauty pageants had always been something she enjoyed.
“Ang pinakagusto ko sa kanya, napaka-positive niya. Sa family namin, siya yung pinaka-loveable. Mapagbigay, hindi siya madamot talaga. Growing up hindi kami mayaman… pero siya, nagbibigay talaga siya. Mabait siya,” he reminisced.
“Gusto niya pretty siya, lagi siya nakaayos pero not to the point na sasali siya. Nabigla din kami kasi noong time na yun, saktong pag-engage niya. Sabi niya samin ‘gusto ko sumali ganyan sa mga beauty pageant. Gusto ko maranasan yung single life bago kami ikasal ni Yitzhak’,” continued his brother.
On Saturday, Lopez and her boyfriend’s bodies were recovered at a remote quarry site in Capas, Tarlac, two weeks after they were reported missing.
Based on the investigation, the death of the couple is looking into the involvement of two ex-policemen who reportedly shot the two over a land dispute.