Katherine Cheng has broken her silence after 10 days of mourning the loss of her son, Kingston Ralph Cheng, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident on February 8, 2026. The tragedy occurred while Kingston was walking along Paseo Saturnino in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.
Heartbreaking Statement from a Grieving Mother
In a public statement released on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Mrs. Cheng expressed her profound grief. "I lost my son in an unimaginable, tragic way that makes it so painful that words cannot express. It was the most difficult moment in my entire life. Fear and hope were flooding inside me as I came to terms with the reality that I had lost him," she said.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Kingston suffered severe injuries after being thrown into a pole when he was struck by a speeding SUV driven by Sean Andrew Pajarillo, 21. The SUV initially collided with a parked sedan before continuing to flee the scene. According to Cheng's statement, the family initially did not intend to file a complaint but now seeks justice for their son's untimely death.
"We are too hurt, and we wanted to lay our son to rest in peace. But we want to honor him and we don't want the tragedy to go to waste, as if it did not happen," the statement noted.
Family's Call for Justice and Road Safety
The Cheng family has stated they will accept the outcome of the case and trust the police and courts to perform their duties. "The family's intention to file a case is to make the incident official so that other loving families will never feel our pain," Cheng added.
They hope Kingston's death will serve as a reminder of the dangers of drunk driving and urge authorities to enhance road safety in Cebu. "No amount of remorse or sincere apologies can ever bring him back. I don't know how I can bear this; it is unbearable for any mother, for any parent," Katherine stated.
Legal Proceedings and Aftermath
Earlier, the Cheng family remained silent following the incident until after Kingston's burial. Meanwhile, Pajarillo has been charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and was granted temporary freedom after posting a bail of P72,000.
