By Edalyn B. Acta
The brutal death of a college student from Roxas City in Iloilo has remained a mystery.
While the family of Frank Rois Barbasa believed he was the charred body found at a private subdivision in Pavia last week, the police have not confirmed the identity pending results of DNA exam.
There’s also no confirmation if the 22-year-old Barbasa from Barangay Punta Tabuc was the one who set himself on fire that eventually led to his death.
But this is the theory that Pavia Municipal Police Station (MPS) is strongly looking at following the release of the autopsy results over the weekend, which found no other lethal injuries except the fatal burns.
The suicide theory was bolstered by physical items found near the cadaver including a wallet containing Barbasa’s IDs, a mobile phone, a power bank, and student permits from the University of San Agustin.
It was before 5 AM of April 29, 2026 when residents thought there was a grass fire at a deserted area of a private subdivision in Pavia. But when they went to see it up-close, they realized it was a human body.
Timeline
The police was able to create a timeline based on videos from security cameras and informants who came forward.
Barbasa left his aunt’s house in La Paz, Iloilo City around 5:00 PM of April 28 and went to a friend’s house in Mandurriao district by riding a Grab car.
By 8:00 PM, Barbasa purchased gasoline at a gas station located in Barangay Hibao-an in Mandurriao. Gas station attendants told authorities he insisted on buying gasoline as he claimed that his vehicle ran out of fuel.
Barbasa then proceeded to Pavia town by riding another Grab car. Before 8:30 PM, CCTV footage placed him at a 7-Eleven store located within a mall complex.
CCTV footage also captured Barbasa entering the subdivision before 9:00 PM. The subdivision is incidentally where his ex-girlfriend resides.
Residents told authorities they saw Barbasa sitting outside his ex-girlfriend’s house until 10:00 PM. It was believed he was never able to see her that night.
Mobile phone records showed that Barbasa messaged his uncle based in Germany and his last message was sent before 2 AM of April 29.
Barbasa was reportedly an only child and his parents separated while he was still young.
