City of San Fernando, Pampanga — Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda presented a ₱1-million reward to a key informant who provided crucial information in the high-profile murder case of Kapampangan beauty queen Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend, Yitshak Cohen.
The awarding took place at the Kingsborough International Convention Center on August 30 during the Joint Pampanga Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) 3rd Quarterly Meeting.
It can be recalled last July that the Provincial Government of Pampanga announced the reward for anyone who could offer information leading to the whereabouts of the couple, who had been missing since June 21 after they were last seen driving to Capas, Tarlac, to inspect a property.
Tragically, on July 6, authorities discovered the bodies of Lopez and Cohen at a quarry site in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Capas. The Philippine National Police (PNP) have identified former policeman Michael Guiang as the prime suspect in orchestrating the murders. Investigations revealed that Guiang had mortgaged a property to Lopez but allegedly reneged on the agreement when the beauty queen sought to claim the land.
The reward, funded by the Pampanga Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and an anonymous donor from the business sector, was personally handed over by Governor Delta to the informant, known only by the alias “Junjun.”
In addition to the PPOC’s reward, Sto. Tomas Mayor John Sambo contributed an extra ₱150,000, bringing the total amount to ₱1.15-million.
Alias “Junjun” expressed a sense of relief, stating that he feels a measure of peace knowing that justice is being pursued for the victims.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Jake Manguerra of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Tarlac assured the public that the investigation would continue until full justice is served.