Filipino Influencers Gina Lima and Ivan Ronquillo Die One Day Apart – What We Know So Far

Authorities in Quezon City are examining the events that led to the back-to-back deaths of two young Filipino influencers, that has sent shockwaves across the country.

She was young, beautiful, and beloved by fans — but her final hours remain shrouded in mystery and heartbreak. Now, police are digging into the tragic and suspicious death of 23-year-old actress and model Gina Lima. She was found lifeless inside her Quezon City condominium on a seemingly ordinary Monday morning.

The man who last saw her alive — her former boyfriend, 24-year-old Ivan Cezar Ronquillo — is now dead too.

Found Unresponsive in Her Condo Bedroom

Authorities say Lima was discovered unconscious and not breathing in her Barangay Katipunan unit on November 17. According to the La Loma Police Station, Ronquillo claimed he awoke to find her beside him, unresponsive. He rushed her to Quezon City General Hospital, but it was too late. Lima was declared dead on arrival.

A hospital's preliminary findings pointed to cardiorespiratory distress as a possible cause of death. As word of her death spread like wildfire across social media, a chorus of concerned friends and fans emerged.

Several claimed Lima had been seen multiple times with mysterious bruises. Authorities have yet to validate those allegations and have not confirmed if they will be considered in the formal investigation.

A Deadly Aftermath

The shock deepened when, just 24 hours later, Ronquillo himself was found dead in what investigators believe to be an apparent suicide.

Though medical staff at Quezon City General Hospital briefly revived him, he slipped away soon after. Police say they are now poring over the timeline of events leading to both deaths, gathering testimonies from those closest to Lima.

Lima's silence echoed across the digital world as fans waited and waited for answers. Yet VMX, the entertainment platform that once proudly showcased Lima's rising star, has remained eerily quiet, offering no statement on the 23-year-old actress' devastating death.

Forensic Findings Deepen the Mystery

Fresh forensic details soon emerged, painting a picture that was as puzzling as it was heartbreaking. An initial autopsy revealed no external injuries that could have caused Lima's death.

Instead, the medico-legal report noted only nonfatal marks, along with troubling signs of organ congestion — fluid in her lungs and a congested heart. These findings echoed early suspicions of possible cardiorespiratory distress.

Police Capt. Michael Aarón Alcantara, who conducted the autopsy, cautioned that the cause of death remains undetermined pending further tests. Blood, urine, stomach contents, vaginal swabs, and tissue samples have all been sent for analysis — each one holding a piece of the truth.

Investigators Eye "Other Possible Causes"

During a tense press briefing, QCPD spokesperson Police Major Jennifer Gannaban revealed that investigators were weighing "other possible causes" once lab results come in. She confirmed that tablets and marijuana "kush" had been recovered from Lima's room. Whether these items played any role in her final moments remains unclear.

Authorities also released new details surrounding Ronquillo's death. According to Police Lt. Col. Edison Ouano, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, Ronquillo was declared dead on arrival at Quezon City General Hospital at around 7:20 a.m., in what is being treated as an alleged suicide by hanging.

Digital Harassment Under Scrutiny

Ouano acknowledged that police were now reviewing the tidal wave of online harassment aimed at Ronquillo in the hours after Lima's death. Investigators confirmed they are assessing reports of intense digital abuse, though they emphasized that Ronquillo had never been considered a person of interest.

Major Gannaban reiterated that no evidence linked him to Lima's death and that medico-legal findings supported that conclusion. She stressed that Ronquillo had been cooperating fully and was treated strictly as a witness — an assessment Lima's grieving family agreed to as the investigation continued.

Chilling Final Posts Before His Death

In the hours after Lima died, Ronquillo posted a series of haunting videos on Facebook. One clip showed him welcoming her into a residence where they talked softly. Another depicted him crying and clutching her unconscious body in his lap.

He wrote that he wished he had heard her say "I love you" one more time, hinting at a devastating plan to follow her. In a final post, he shared a montage of their moments, confessing that he loved her deeply and could not imagine life without her — a heartbreaking prelude to his own tragic end.