Kingston Cheng remembered as trial gets going

Local

FAMILY and friends of the late Kingston Cheng marked what would have been his 24th birthday on Wednesday, April 23, outside the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Cebu City.

They turned the first hearing of the case into a public call for justice and stronger safeguards against drunk driving.

Wearing shirts that read “Save Lives, Amend RA 10586” and “Don’t Drink and Drive,” supporters gathered near the courthouse, amplifying the hashtag #JusticeForKingstonCheng as they pressed for accountability and reforms to prevent similar incidents.

The court proceedings, however, were cut short after the defense raised procedural objections, which prompted the RTC to reset the hearing to May 12.

Counsel for the accused, lawyer Julito Añora Jr., said the prosecution attempted to present its first witness, a traffic investigation officer who responded to the incident, but the defense objected due to missing documents.

“The prosecution presented their first witness… but we have not received yet his judicial affidavit and we also did not receive the copies of the CCTV footage that the prosecution intended to present,” Añora said.

He explained that without these materials, the defense could not effectively cross-examine the witness or assess the admissibility of the evidence.

“We move for the cancellation of his direct examination as well as the cross-examination of the witness,” he added.

Añora said the witness was only able to confirm his identity in court and did not proceed to substantive testimony.

“He was able to testify insofar as to his name, his identity, but… he was not directly examined because we have not also received the judicial affidavits,” he said.

While the defense acknowledged receiving three judicial affidavits, Añora noted that the affidavit of the first witness was not among them.

“So I did not receive the affidavits of the first witness… we cannot also cross-examine,” he said.

He stressed that the defense is seeking both a speedy resolution and the protection of the accused’s rights.

“We intend to have this case finished as soon as possible, but we also intend to have the rights of the accused protected,” he said.

He added that the camp remains open to a possible settlement. “We will explore possible amicable settlement for this case up to now.”

For the prosecution, lawyer Terence Fernandez confirmed that the case has entered the evidence presentation stage, with the first witness partially presented.

“We were able to present one witness, a traffic investigator… but he is still under examination. Hopefully, during the next hearing, he will be cross-examined,” Fernandez said.

He added that the prosecution is preparing six to seven witnesses in total but declined to assess the strength of their testimonies.

Fernandez noted that such matters rest with the court.

“I cannot answer that, sir… whatever impact the testimony will be, I cannot answer that. This is what the judge will decide,” he said.

Fernandez also shared that the Cheng family continues to struggle with the loss, made more painful by the timing of the hearing on Kingston’s birthday.

“Dili sayon… labi na karon, unta birthday ni Kingston. Sakit kaayo,” he said.

Outside the courtroom, the family’s supporters echoed that grief with renewed calls to strengthen Republic Act No. 10586, or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act.

Both legal proceedings and public advocacy are expected to continue, with the next hearing set for May 12.(TGP)