Archival backs proposed ‘Kingston Ralph Ordinance’

Local

CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival on Monday expressed support for the proposed "Kingston Ralph Ordinance."

He cautioned, however, that any measure passed by the City Council must align with existing national laws and undergo public consultation.

In a press conference on Monday, Feb. 16, Archival said crafting ordinances is a legislative function, and he would back whatever measure the council ultimately approves.

“That is a legislative action nga maghimo sila. Whatever is approved in the council, I will be supporting that,” he said.

The mayor noted that the city government has been closely monitoring recent incidents, including a fatal hit-and-run case, and has extended assistance to national authorities conducting investigations.

“For that, sa tinuod lang, gitagaan gyud og pagtagad tanan… whatever they need from us, we are here to support,” Archival said, referring to coordination with investigators.

He described the Feb. 8 hit-and-run incident near the entrance of Maria Luisa Subdivision in Barangay Banilad, which claimed the life of Kingston Ralph Cheng, founder of The Mill Lifestyle Cafe at Ayala Center Cebu, as emotionally charged.

“Emotional man gud kaayo,” he said.

He added that the legislative response appears to be “inline lang sa unsay angay buhaton.”

However, Archival emphasized that the council cannot impose penalties that go beyond what is provided under national statutes.

“Ang ako lang, naa man gud tay national laws and I think ang atong mga konsehal nga og unsay mga penalties nga naa sa national laws, dili ta ka-over ana og unsay naa didto,” he said.

He also stressed the need for public hearings before any ordinance is finalized.

“Kinahanglan pa man sad na og public hearing. Whatever the result, I will support this. Let’s go for it,” he added.

The proposed ordinance, floated by Councilor Harold Kendrick Go, seeks to hold alcohol-serving establishments administratively, and potentially criminally, liable if they continue serving visibly intoxicated patrons who later cause injury, death, or property damage within a specified period after leaving the premises.

Tentatively titled the “Kingston Ralph Ordinance,” the draft outlines operational guidelines for liquor-serving businesses and defines penalties for violations. Proposed sanctions include fines, suspension or revocation of liquor permits, and possible closure for repeat offenses.

Go, who chairs the Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, said the measure draws inspiration from United States laws that impose liability on establishments that overserve intoxicated customers.

“This ordinance is patterned to US law wherein the bartender will go to jail if ever the bartender will continue to serve a person who is also intoxicated,” Go said in an earlier interview.

He clarified that the proposal does not diminish the liability of individuals who commit crimes while intoxicated.

“The current law is in full force and in effect so this ordinance is just to supplement… to ensure that business establishments will continue to do business responsibly,”

Go said, noting cases where visibly drunk patrons continue to be served alcohol.

The draft has yet to be formally filed with the City Council’s secretariat. Go said he released it online to solicit public feedback before submission.

“This is not final, daghan pa ta og aspect i-review… from different sectors,” he said.

On enforcement, Go acknowledged that implementation would be critical.

“It will depend on the enforcers unsaon pag-implement,” he said, citing existing ordinances such as those against driving under the influence.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier confirmed that the city is consolidating proposals to tighten local enforcement mechanisms.

In a Feb. 13 press conference, Osmeña said he asked Councilors Paul Labra and Harold Go, along with lawyers, to draft measures that would address perceived gaps in implementation of national laws.

“We are drafting an ordinance… to reduce the chances of having something like this happen again,” he said.

Among the proposals under study are requiring bars to install CCTV cameras, mandating visible signage against serving intoxicated customers, penalizing establishments that clearly continue to serve drunk patrons, and directing police to intervene when heavily intoxicated individuals attempt to drive.

Osmeña also said the city is considering a possible midnight cutoff for liquor service and exploring the creation of a centralized communication system to integrate enforcement of anti-noise, drunk driving, and public intoxication complaints.(TGP)