PAVIA, Iloilo — Authorities are turning to forensic science to identify a body found burned beyond recognition in a vacant lot at Green Meadows Subdivision, Barangay Ungka 1 here early Wednesday morning, April 29.
The gruesome discovery was made around 4:30 a.m. after residents noticed smoke they initially mistook for a grass fire. Romulo Parcon, 70, who was jogging in the area, alerted his brother, Alladin, 48, to help douse the flames.
“When I arrived, the fire was large. As I threw water on it, I suddenly smelled something foul. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a body,” a shaken Alladin recounted. The brothers immediately contacted the Pavia Municipal Police Station (MPS).
While the remains were charred beyond recognition, investigators recovered a wallet, a cellphone, and a power bank at the scene. Inside the wallet was an ID belonging to Frank Rois Apelo Barbasa, a 22-year-old graduating student of the University of San Agustin and a resident of Roxas City, Capiz.
Barbasa was reportedly last seen leaving his aunt’s house in Barangay Caingin, La Paz, Iloilo City around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28. He had contacted an uncle in Germany just hours before the discovery, but family members had been unable to reach him since.
Barbasa’s mother immediately traveled to the Pavia MPS. To confirm if the remains are indeed those of his son, she has undergone a DNA swab test.
“Gindala ang iya mother sa region for swab test. Kung magsibo ang DNA sang biktima kag sa mother sang nakita ta nga ID ni Frank, buot silingon ang na-recover ta nga ID kag ang biktima isa lang,” Police Captain Ritz Field S. Presquito, chief of the Pavia MPS, told Panay News.
He added: “Si Frank indi pa ma-contact sang iya pamilya. Ang iya ex-girlfriend sa Green Meadows ga-istar.”
An autopsy is also scheduled to determine if the victim suffered other injuries before being set on fire.
A significant lead in the investigation involves a blue Suzuki sedan, identified as a Grab vehicle, which Barbasa reportedly boarded upon leaving La Paz.
Pavia police have obtained closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage showing a matching vehicle entering Green Meadows on the evening of April 28. However, investigators noted a discrepancy between the license plate captured on camera and the plate number recorded in the subdivision guard’s logbook.
Police are currently looking into Barbasa’s personal connections. Presquito confirmed that the student had an ex-girlfriend residing within the Green Meadows subdivision.
Officers from Pavia MPS have visited the ex-girlfriend and her family to gather information regarding their connection with Frank; however, they have declined to be interviewed.
Persons of interest identified
As of yesterday afternoon, April 30, the Pavia MPS has identified several “persons of interest” in connection with the charred remains.
Presquito, in a DYRI RMN Iloilo report, stated that investigators believe more than one suspect may be involved in the crime. Presquito explained that if the victim is indeed Barbasa, a single perpetrator would have likely struggled to move the body alone due to the victim’s large physical stature. This has led authorities to believe the victim may have been killed at the scene where the body was found.
Presquito added that they are currently pursuing several leads and angles. However, he declined to disclose specific details to the public at this time to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation./PN
