Cebu City was shaken early Sunday, February 8, by a tragic hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of 23-year-old businessman Kingston Ralph Ko Cheng. Cheng, a café owner at Ayala Center Cebu and a resident of the upscale Maria Luisa Village in Barangay Banilad, was walking along a pedestrian lane when he was struck by a vehicle, sustaining fatal injuries.
Police identified the suspect as 21-year-old Sean Andrew Pajarillo, who is currently under hospital arrest after sustaining injuries in the incident. According to the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) of the Cebu City Police Office, the accident occurred at around 12:53 a.m. when Pajarillo, driving a Toyota Innova, reportedly hit a parked Toyota Vios owned by 35-year-old Bryl Alegarbes Deocampo of Barangay Mabolo. Instead of stopping to assess the damage, Pajarillo allegedly fled the scene and struck Cheng shortly afterward. Witnesses said the suspect continued driving at high speed but eventually lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash and overturn near Paseo Rodulfo.
Cheng was immediately rushed to a private hospital but was later declared dead due to severe injuries. TEU personnel also reported that Pajarillo failed to present a valid driver’s license or the vehicle’s registration and official receipt, prompting authorities to place him under hospital arrest. Pajarillo tested negative for alcohol and illegal drugs. Authorities are preparing to file a case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against him. Meanwhile, no charges will be filed regarding Deocampo’s vehicle, as the matter was amicably settled with the suspect agreeing to shoulder the repair costs.
Tragic Hit-and-Run in Cebu City Claims Young Businessman’s Life
The incident has left Cheng’s family, friends, and colleagues in mourning. Former teacher and television broadcaster Cecille Quibod Castro of GMA Balitang Bisdak shared heartfelt memories of Cheng, recalling him as a bright, kind student who loved Math and Science. “Rest in peace, my dearest Tonton. You are deeply loved and you will always be remembered. You will be missed beyond words,” she wrote on social media.
As the Cebu community grieves the untimely death of a young life, many are calling for justice, hoping that authorities will ensure accountability while honoring Cheng’s memory.
