Filipino model-influencer Gina Lima died on 16 November 2025, aged 23, at a hospital in Quezon City after being brought in by her ex-boyfriend, content creator Ivan Cezar Ronquillo, who himself died three days later on 19 November at the age of 24.
Police investigations show that Gina Lima was found unresponsive at Ronquillo’s residence in Quezon City on 16 November. Ronquillo reportedly discovered her and then transported her to hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.
Initial medico-legal findings released by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) indicated the presence of “non-fatal external injuries” on Ms Lima’s body along with heart congestion and fluid-filled (edematous) lungs. No external wound was deemed fatal at that stage and police said no indication of foul play in her death has been established.
The QCPD confirmed that in the scene of the incident, medical authorities found tablets and marijuana in the room where Ms Lima was discovered unresponsive. Toxicology and histopathology examinations remain pending to determine the exact cause of death.
Less than 72 hours later, on 19 November, Mr Ronquillo was found dead in the stairwell of his Quezon City home and rushed to hospital where he was declared dead on arrival at around 7 a.m. The QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief said that Mr Ronquillo’s death is being treated as a suspected suicide by hanging at this stage. Investigators stressed that he was never designated as a suspect in the investigation of Ms Lima’s death.
Ms Lima came from Bayugan in Agusan del Sur, and had moved to Quezon City to pursue a modelling and online influencing career. She attended high school in Mauban, Quezon, and later studied at STI College Sta. Mesa; she was described as the youngest of four siblings and remained close to her family. On social media she had built a sizable following: her TikTok account reportedly had around 1.4 million followers, Facebook some 410,000, and Instagram approximately 180,000. Her online content included modelling shoots and lifestyle posts; while she was widely labelled as a “Vivamax model” the only credited film listing in the visible sources is the Regal Entertainment feature “My Fairy Tail Love Story”.
Mr Ronquillo was known for fitness-related social media posts, with an Instagram audience over 34,000. Prior to death, he posted a series of tributes to Ms Lima on Facebook that included images and videos of the two together. One translated message read: “I love you so much Gina I can never do it without you by my side.”
In the aftermath, Mr Ronquillo’s family attributed his passing in part to intense online harassment following Ms Lima’s death. A relative said: “We are looking at the possibility that one of the causes of my nephew’s death … was due to the overwhelming number of people who judged him on social media.”
The police are continuing to investigate both deaths. For Ms Lima’s case, the official cause of death has not yet been determined pending full toxicology and histopathology results. For Mr Ronquillo, the investigation is focused on the circumstances of his apparent suicide. Both incidents have drawn intense attention and online speculation.
In their statement the QCPD noted that although bruising was present on Ms Lima’s thighs, those marks were affirmed as non-fatal in the initial autopsy: “non-fatal external injuries … presence of heart congestion and congested lungs,” said QCPD Spokesperson Maj. Jennifer Gannaban. The police also clarified that Mr Ronquillo was considered a witness in Ms Lima’s death, not a suspect.
Amid widespread speculation on social media about a possible assault, investigators dismissed beating as the cause at this point, though they cautioned that final laboratory results are needed before declaring a definitive cause.
The dual deaths have prompted both public grief and commentary about the role of social media in intensifying personal crises. Some posts behind the scenes were flagged for spreading unverified claims; one friend of the couple, Valentine Rosales, publicly accused Mr Ronquillo of fatal violence before official findings were released and later apologised, saying his psychiatrist recommended that he stop using social media.
Friends and family of Ms Lima remember her as “full of life, optimism and ambition,” someone who had posted just days before her death a message about wanting to make her future self proud: “Dear self, in 5 years I’ll make you proud, I promise!”
Ms Lima’s family have called for calm as they await further results. According to QCPD, the hospital initially diagnosed her as suffering from cardiorespiratory distress before the autopsy proceeded.
The investigation remains ongoing. Neither the cause of Ms Lima’s death nor full circumstances of Mr Ronquillo’s final hours have been conclusively established. The QCPD said they will issue updates once toxicology and histopathology reports are complete and any relevant forensic follow-up is concluded.
The two separate but connected tragedies have resonated widely on social platforms, highlighting the intersection of influencer culture, rapid public speculation and personal vulnerability.