Following the deadly hit-and-run in Cebu City, Mayor Nestor Archival on Monday defended the proposed “Kingston Ralph Ordinance,” stressing that the initiative is focused on public safety and accountability, not political grandstanding.
Speaking at a press conference on February 16, Archival clarified that drafting penalties falls under the City Council’s legislative function, and he will support whatever measure is properly enacted.
“That is a legislative function nga maghimo sila. Whatever is approved in the council, I will be supporting that,” he said.
The ordinance proposal emerged after the February 8 incident near Maria Luisa Subdivision in Barangay Banilad that claimed the life of young entrepreneur Kingston Ralph Cheng.
The case has sparked nationwide discussions on drunk driving and the responsibility of establishments that serve alcohol.
Archival underscored that any local ordinance must comply with national laws.
“Naa man gud tay national laws… og unsay mga penalties nga naa sa national laws, dili ta ka-over ana og unsay naa didto,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of due process, noting that public hearings must take place before any ordinance is finalized.
“Kinahanglan pa man sad na og public hearing. Whatever the result, I will support this. Let’s go for it,” Archival added.
The proposal has generated mixed reactions online, with some critics suggesting officials are leveraging public sentiment for attention.
Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña dismissed such claims, pointing to the city’s history of decisive enforcement even in cases that did not involve high-profile victims.
“We are not reacting simply because it’s a popular issue,” Osmeña said, citing a 2017 road rage shooting involving David Lim Jr., when city authorities pursued action despite the victim not being a public figure.
“The medical intern that David Lim shot was not a prominent person. But it was not acceptable,” he added. “You cannot get protection just because of who you are.”
The ordinance, being drafted by Councilor Harold Kendrick Go, seeks to hold bars and similar establishments accountable for serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons who later cause injury, death, or property damage.
Go explained that the proposal is modeled after U.S. “dram shop” laws and is intended to supplement, not replace, existing national legislation on criminal liability and drunk driving.
“This is not about diverting the penalty away from the accused,” Go said in a previous interview. “He will still be held liable under existing laws.”
Among measures under consideration are mandatory CCTV in bars, clear signage prohibiting service to intoxicated patrons, possible cut-off hours for alcohol sales, and protocols for staff to notify authorities if a patron insists on driving while heavily intoxicated.
Osmeña noted that defining “visibly intoxicated” will be a key legal hurdle and emphasized that the ordinance must withstand scrutiny while respecting due process.
“There’s a legal process to be done. We already have a draft. We just want to consolidate inputs before passing them,” he said. (LLP)
Photo from Nestor Archival’s Facebook
