The first hearing in the hit-and-run case involving Kingston Ralph Cheng opened on April 23, only to stall within hours as the defense raised missing documents and the court reset proceedings to May 12.
The case unfolded inside the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Barangay Kasambagan on what would have been Cheng’s 24th birthday, drawing supporters outside who wore white shirts and called for justice and reforms in road safety laws.
Inside the courtroom, Sean Andrew Pajarillo faced charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property over the February 8 incident along Paseo Saturnino Road in Barangay Banilad.
The prosecution presented its first witness, a traffic investigator, but cross-examination did not proceed after the defense said it had not received key materials, including affidavits and CCTV footage.
“We requested the court to have us furnished with these documents, as well as the CCTVs, for the cross-examination of the first witness,” defense counsel Atty. Julito Añora Jr. said.
Añora also said the defense raised a motion for reconsideration questioning jurisdiction and indicated openness to an out-of-court settlement.
“We are trying to have an amicable settlement so this case won’t be prolonged,” he said.
The court set the next hearings for May 12 and June 23.
Lawyer Atty. Terence Fernandez, representing Cheng’s family, said they are prepared to proceed with trial.
“The family is coping, and they want to proceed with the case,” he said.
Fernandez added that the prosecution plans to present up to seven witnesses.
Cheng, a 23-year-old entrepreneur, died after being hit along Paseo Saturnino Road by a vehicle allegedly driven by Pajarillo, who had earlier struck a parked car.
Witness accounts and CCTV footage circulating online suggested the driver showed signs of intoxication before the crash, but hospital tests reportedly returned negative for alcohol.
The discrepancy has fueled renewed discussion on the enforcement of Republic Act No. 10586, or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.
Outside the court, supporters turned the hearing into a call for legislative reform, pushing for amendments to strengthen evidence collection and prosecution standards in drunk driving cases.
Proposals raised include a mandatory two-hour window for alcohol testing, use of retrograde extrapolation for delayed testing, stricter penalties for fatalities in high-risk areas, and “implied consent” provisions requiring chemical testing as a condition for holding a driver’s license.
The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas reiterated its zero tolerance policy on reckless driving and violations of the law as the case continues.
The February 8 incident has since become both a criminal proceeding and a focal point in ongoing debates over gaps in road safety enforcement. (LLP)
Image courtesy of Kenneth Tee
Comments