Ex-cops face raps for murder of Pinay, Israeli

Two counts of murder against two former police officers and other suspects in the killing of Pampanga beauty queen Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen are expected to be filed in the next few days.

- MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

At a news briefing at Camp Crame yesterday, the former police officers implicated in the crime were identified as Michael Guiang, allegedly the mastermind whose motive was rooted in a land dispute, and Rommel Abuso.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil revealed that the two former police officers held the rank of patrolman.

Investigation showed that Guiang had pawned a piece of land to Lopez who refused to return it, according to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco.

Lopez and Cohen were supposed to meet Guiang and Abuso, who was introduced as a potential buyer of the land, according to Francisco.

During the meeting, the couple was shot by the two suspects. “It was a planned activity.