The vehicle belonging to Sean Andrew Pajarillo, the individual implicated in a deadly hit-and-run accident that resulted in the tragic death of young entrepreneur Kingston Ralph Cheng, is currently secured at the impounding facility located along South Road Properties in Cebu City. This development comes amid heightened public scrutiny and concerns over potential judicial interference.
Netizens Express Concerns Over Suspect's Social Connections
Online communities are voicing significant apprehension that the hit-and-run driver might avoid legal consequences due to his father's affiliations with elite social clubs, despite repeated police assurances that the investigation remains strictly independent and grounded in factual evidence. Authorities are actively countering widespread speculation circulating on social media platforms that suspect Sean Andrew Pajarillo could receive special treatment or be covertly extracted from a Mandaue City hospital because of his family's prominent social network.
Clarifications on Club Memberships and Investigation Independence
Public anxiety intensified following revelations that Pajarillo's father is reportedly a member of the "Tiger Group," a civilian community involved in the Highway Patrol Group's Executive Motorcycle Riding Course, and is also associated with a local freemasonry chapter. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wildemar Tiu of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-7 has firmly stated that these connections hold no relevance to the ongoing case. "Those are merely allegations suggesting they have influential connections. The Highway Patrol Group has absolutely no involvement in this investigation," Tiu explained to The Freeman. He stressed that the Executive Motorcycle Riding Course is exclusively designed for road safety training and does not provide any form of legal immunity or protection to its participants.
Details of the Fatal Incident in Maria Luisa Village
The catastrophic event unfolded within the affluent Maria Luisa Village situated in Barangay Banilad. According to official reports from the Cebu City Traffic Enforcement Unit, Pajarillo initially collided with a stationary Toyota Vios on Paseo Saturnino Road before proceeding to fatally strike entrepreneur Kingston Ralph Co Cheng along Paseo Rodolfo. The suspect continued his reckless flight until his vehicle ultimately overturned several meters away inside the residential subdivision.
Controversy Surrounding Alcohol Testing Procedures
Additional controversy has emerged regarding the suspect's medical examination for intoxication. While first responders and investigating officers noted that Pajarillo exhibited clear signs of alcohol impairment at the accident scene, he subsequently tested negative for alcohol nearly nineteen hours later. This considerable delay occurred because attending physicians did not authorize his release for testing immediately after his hospitalization for injuries sustained during the crash.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival previously acknowledged that Pajarillo, upon admission to the Cebu City Medical Center, was not subjected to alcohol testing since the hospital lacks the necessary equipment to conduct such examinations. The mayor clarified that the doctor who certified the negative alcohol result for Pajarillo performed only a physical examination nineteen hours after the initial observation of intoxication.
Authorities Reaffirm Commitment to Transparent Legal Process
SunStar Cebu conducted inquiries with local freemason organizations, which confirmed that the elder Pajarillo is not a registered member. Law enforcement officials consistently maintain that the judicial process will proceed strictly according to the factual evidence of the case, irrespective of the suspect's social standing or club affiliations. Both Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and the city police department have provided assurances that the investigation will be conducted with complete transparency and integrity.
SunStar attempted to contact Pajarillo for his account of the incident but was unsuccessful as he remains under hospital arrest at this time. The legal proceedings continue as authorities gather evidence and witness testimonies to ensure justice is served for the victim and his family.
