Senator Chiz files bill to strengthen anti-drunk and drugged driving law

CEBU CITY – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero filed Senate Bill No. 2078, “An Act Strengthening Mechanisms Against Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Dangerous Drugs, and Other Similar Substances,” amending Republic Act 10586 or the Anti‑Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013 and to strengthen the country’s anti‑drunk and drugged driving law in response to mounting calls from road‑safety advocates and victims’ families for tougher enforcement and accountability.

Escudero said, bill intends to close enforcement gaps that have led to downgraded cases and delayed justice in fatal crashes such as the case that claimed the life of 23‑year‑old Cebuano entrepreneur Kingston Ralph Cheng early this year.

“Hindi dapat nagiging butas ng batas ang mabagal o kulang na aksyon sa mga insidente ng pagmamanehong lasing,” he stressed, adding that the bill directly addresses public frustration over weak enforcement, and the decade-old law must be updated to reflect present‑day realities and ensure swift, credible testing after road incidents.

This bill is about saving lives and restoring public trust in the law, citing the Cheng case in Cebu as a mirror of the lack of justice and trust to the country’s law enforcement capabilities.  The 19-hour delay in the conduct of the sobriety test and no breathalyzer/blood test after the crush, weakened the DUI charge against the suspect, Sean Andrew Pajarillo.

Cebu City lacked objective alcohol testing equipment and doctors used only the “Romberg test” — asking suspect to stand and checking if he sways and the NBI finding that the City lacks an objective alcohol test, this gap according to the NBI weakened the DUI charge against Pajarillo.

The result, Pajarillo tested negative for alcohol despite witness accounts and CCTV showing him leaving a bar intoxicated. Escudero bared that under SB 2078, law‑enforcement officers would be required to conduct field sobriety, breath, chemical, and drug screening tests within two hours of a crash resulting in injury or death. The bill also introduces administrative sanctions for officers who fail or refuse to perform these tests within the prescribed period to ensure accountability and compliance.

It further sets clear and definitive blood‑alcohol concentration thresholds anchored on vehicle type and driver classification, increases penalties under RA 10586 to restore the law’s deterrent effect while keeping sanctions proportionate, and upholds the integrity and reliability of evidence by minimizing opportunities for evasion or delay, the Senator noted.

Cebu advocates shout for Cheng’s justice

Senator Chiz acting urgently on the measure would honor victims like Cheng by ensuring that impaired driving is met with swift, consistent, and credible enforcement, he added that his bill mirrored the stricter thresholds outlined in House Bill 8939 filed recently by Cebu City Rep. and House Deputy Majority Leader Eduardo Rama Jr., which proposes a 0.00 percent limit for high‑risk groups and a 0.02 percent limit for private motorists.

Kingston's mother, Katherine Cheng said “no amount of remorse can bring him back” and wants case to prevent future tragedies.  The Cheng case is now on trial, but delays in sobriety testing, lack of breathalyzers, and evidence-sharing issues slowed proceedings.

The bottom line is Pajarillo remains out on bail while NBI and Ombudsman run separate probes into enforcement lapses. The family continues to reject “special treatment” claims and pushes for conviction + legal reforms.

“Kung may nasaktan o namatay, dapat awtomatiko at mabilis ang pagsusuri. Hindi puwedeng hintayin pang mawala ang ebidensya bago kumilos,” Escudero said and anti-drunk drugged driving advocates in Cebu as well as other parts of the country want this bill approved the soonest time. (Photos: FB & Google Images)