Israel embassy monitoring fate of missing Filipina and Israeli boyfriend

TORCHED The vehicle used by beauty pageant candidate Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitchak Cohen before they went missing is found burned along Cojuangco Road in Capas, Tarlac, on Saturday. The vehicle has been cordoned off, as shown in this photo taken on Monday, after investigators processed the site. —Gab Razon/contributor

MANILA, Philippines — The Israeli embassy in the Philippines said it is now coordinating with Filipino authorities regarding the disappearance of a certain Pampanga beauty pageant candidate and her Israeli boyfriend.

In a text message, the embassy said it was completely aware of the incident.

“The embassy of Israel in Manila, alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, are fully aware of the case of the missing Israeli and are taking the appropriate measures to address it,” it said.

READ: Tarlac cops start retracing steps of missing couple

“The Israeli embassy is liaising with local authorities, including the Philippine National Police,” it added.

According to the embassy, they have complete confidence in the Philippine government’s efforts to resolve the matter immediately.

Authorities earlier identified the missing individuals as Geneva Lopez, 27 and Yitchak Cohen, 37.

According to Capas Police chief Lt. Col. Librado Manarang, the couple met with someone in Tarlac on June 21 to inspect land that they are interested in buying.

Manarang said it was the last time that the couple were seen. The very same day, their families and friends lost contact with them.

Meanwhile, police said the sport utility vehicle used by Lopez and Cohen was found burning along the Capas-San Jose Road in Cristo Rey village at 2:36 a.m. on June 22.