Bus driver in Estella case pleads not guilty

One of the bus drivers indicted in a Quezon City court for his alleged involvement in the road mishap in May that killed veteran journalist Chit Estella  has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him.

Victor Ancheta, a driver for Nova Bus, was arraigned Wednesday morning before Judge Ralph Lee of Regional Trial Court Branch 83.

Ancheta entered a plea of not guilty to charges of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with homicide.

Daniel Espinosa, a driver  of Universal Guiding Star bus,  showed up in the afternoon, thinking that the hearing was set at 2 p.m. instead of in the morning.

The court decided to move his arraignment for the same charges to Jan. 25 next year at 8:30 a.m.

Both bus drivers previously posted bail for their temporary liberty after Lee issued warrants for their arrest for the death of Estella (Lourdes Estella-Simbulan in real life).

Estella, who also taught at the University of the Philippines,  died on May 13 while in a cab on her way to a meeting with friends   at the UP Ayala Land Technohub along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Ancheta was   the driver of the speeding Nova bus which first sideswiped Estella’s cab, while Espinosa’s bus rammed the taxi a few seconds after Ancheta hit the vehicle.