Five men who presented themselves as a security escort for 21-year-old Sean Andrew Pajarillo were apprehended by police on the afternoon of Thursday, February 12, 2026, outside a private room in a hospital in Mandaue City. Pajarillo is the driver-suspect in a hit-and-run case that killed young businessman Kingston Ralph Cheng, 23, in the early hours of February 8, 2026, in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City. He is under hospital arrest due to injuries sustained when his SUV overturned, and initial reports indicated he tested negative for alcohol.
Security Breach at Hospital
The room where Pajarillo is being held is guarded by personnel from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO). At 2:45 PM on February 12, five men described as muscular or large-bodied arrived and attempted to enter the suspect's private room. When questioned by detailed personnel from the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) about their relationship to the suspect, the men claimed to be private security escorts hired by Pajarillo's family to watch over the young man under hospital arrest.
Investigation and Arrest
Due to this claim, duty personnel from CCPO and MCPO were called, and the five men were placed under investigation when they failed to produce documents authorizing them to act as security personnel. CCPO coordinated with the Regional Civil Security Unit 7, which quickly went to the hospital to verify if the men were legitimate security personnel from a registered agency. It was discovered that the men were actually bouncers from a night club, hired by the Pajarillo family to guard Sean.
Immediately, the five were arrested for violating Republic Act 11917, known as the Private Security Act, specifically for engaging in the exercise of the security profession without authority. They were taken to Station 2 of the Mandaue City Police Office. The investigation is being led by Cebu City Police Office Director PCOL George Ylanan, who confirmed that the men were hired by the family as security escorts for Pajarillo.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about unauthorized security operations in sensitive situations, particularly involving high-profile cases like the hit-and-run that resulted in Cheng's death. Authorities emphasize the importance of proper licensing and oversight in the security industry to prevent such breaches.
