The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Sunday said that autopsies conducted on beauty pageant contestant Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen revealed that each victim sustained two gunshot wounds.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago told journalists that Lopez was apparently shot in the back, indicating that she was either caught by surprise or was running away from the assailant.
“Okay, the NBI conducted an autopsy and we already have results. The woman was shot on her back and the bullet came out of her chest. She was also shot on her thigh. The man was shot on his chest and the bullet came out of his back. He was also shot near the armpit, the NBI director said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
Santiago said that a slug that failed to exit the body of Lopez will be submitted for a ballistics examination.
The remains of the star-crossed lovers were found in a vacant lot within a quarry site in Barangay Stant Lucia in Capas, Tarlac on Saturday morning.
Santiago explained that the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) remains the lead agency in investigating the twin killing with the NBI only providing forensic assistance.
He noted that DNA samples from the victims were collected but results are still pending.
Lopez and Cohen were last seen alive on June 21.
The two were on their way to inspect a property for sale in Capas town when they disappeared.
Santiago said that they are looking into a land dispute angle as the motive behind the killings.
He disclosed that investigators have strong evidence linking two policemen to the deaths of Lopez and Cohen.
Interior and Local Government Sec. Benhur Abalos said the two policemen, who had gone AWOL (absence without leave), were already in custody.
Meanwhile, the beauty contestant’s remains were cremated immediately after being released to the family by authorities and a wake is ongoing at the Gate of Heaven Memorial Chapel in Minalin, Pampanga.
The Israeli Embassy in Manila said it would facilitate the repatriation of Cohen’s remains to his homeland.
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