Five individuals who claimed to be bodyguards of the 21-year-old suspect in a hit-and-run case were arrested in a hospital in Mandaue City and charged for alleged violation of the Private Security Services Industry Act. 

The five men were arrested on February 12, 2026 in the premises of a medical facility in Mandaue City and were charged at the Mandaue City Prosecutors Office on Friday, February 13. 

However, a lawyer said that the men are not bodyguards or private escorts, but acquaintances of the suspect. 

The five who have been detained at the Mandaue Station 2 were taken to the Mandaue City Hall of Justice for the inquest proceedings at the City Prosecutors Office, after police filed charges against them for violation of Republic Act 11917, or the Private Security Services Industry Act. 

The five arrived reportedly at the private hospital at about 5 p.m. on February 12 where 21-year-old Sean Andrew Pajarillo is confined. 

Parajillo is the suspect in a hit-and-run case in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City that killed 23-year-old businessman Kingston Ralph Co Cheng. 

“Gisita pa sila sa security guard sa hospital, gipangutana unsa ang ilang katuyoan. Nipaila sila nga sila daw ang private security. Karon ang security guard mi-coordinate sa duty security ug pulis [nga] nagbantay,” said Police Lt. Col. Mercy Villaro-Kantuna, information officer of the Mandaue City Police Office. 

However, the five men failed to present proof or any supporting document to their claim, which led to their arrest.

“Kung kinsa ra pod ang licensed security dapat permit registered unta sa maong balaod sila lang ang legal, legal mahimong security, wala man sila’y napakita mao man ni ilang allegations security daw sila, then wala’y napakita,” Kantuna added. 

According to Atty. Nodger Jude Dalman, one of the legal counsels of the Pajarillo family, the five sought to visit the suspect in the hospital. 

“Dili na man ta maka-question sa ilang intention ana, basta family acquaintances sila, they’re not security escorts, they are not hired…[Reporter: Are they related o nag-work ba sa club] I don’t have that information, no comment,” Dalman said. 

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak tried to seek a comment from the five individuals, but they refused an interview.

Dalman added that the Pajarillo family will provide legal counsels for the five accused.