A tragic hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of 23-year-old entrepreneurKingston Ralph Ko Chenghas exposed critical gaps in Cebu City's traffic enforcement system. The young businessman, founder of The Mill Lifestyle Café at Ayala Centre Cebu, died after being struck by a speeding vehicle on a pedestrian crossing, whilst the driver later tested negative for alcohol following a 19-hour delay in testing.
Kingston Ralph Ko Cheng was far more than your average cafe owner. After earning his bachelor's degree in International Business from Monash Business School in Australia, he opened The Mill Lifestyle Café at 21, quickly becoming a notable name in Cebu's business community.
He stood out because he refused to pick a lane. He handled the pressures of running a business without ever neglecting the violin, pouring the same amount of discipline into his music as he did his entrepreneurship.
The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry described him as someone who 'embodied the promise, creativity, and determination of Cebu's next generation of entrepreneurs'.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:53 a.m. on 8 February 2026, along Paseo Saturnino Road in Barangay Banilad. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jose Los Baños, information officer of the Cebu City Police Office, outlined the sequence of events during a press conference on 11 February. Sean Andrew Pajarillo, 21, was driving aToyotaInnova when he first struck a parked Toyota Vios near One Paseo but did not stop.
A few metres away, Pajarillo hit Cheng, who was crossing on the pedestrian lane. The impact reportedly threw the young businessman into a utility pole, resulting in critical injuries that led to his death at a private hospital. Police said Pajarillo attempted to flee but later crashed inside Maria Luisa Village, leading to his apprehension.
Security camera footage from that evening captured Pajarillo at a nightclub. The video shows him stumbling and falling, eventually needing help getting to his vehicle. At the scene, investigators reported detecting the smell of alcohol on his breath.
Emergency responders brought Pajarillo to a private hospital in Mandaue City upon his father's request. He was admitted to the emergency room at around 1:50 a.m. and later transferred to a private room. By 2:50 p.m., Traffic Enforcement Unit personnel coordinated with hospital officials to request liquor and drug tests.
The medical team told investigators that the procedure needed the patient's permission first. Pajarillo reportedly agreed to it. Police later learnt that the hospital had no available alcohol testing equipment.
Authorities then arranged for the test to be conducted at the Cebu City Medical Centre. The transfer was further delayed by approximately one hour and 30 minutes due to the unavailability of an ambulance.
Source: International Business Times UK
