2 bus drivers in journalist Chit Estella’s death to be arraigned November

MANILA, Philippines—A Quezon City court has set the arraignment in November of two bus drivers involved in the May 2011 road crash, which killed veteran journalist and professor Chit Estella.

This developed as Daniel Espinosa of the Universal Guiding Star Bus line posted bail early this week for his temporary liberty before Regional Trial Court Branch 83.

In a one-page order, pairing judge Severino de Castro Jr. scheduled for his arraignment and that of fellow driver Victor Ancheta to November 9 at 2 p.m.

Court staff said Espinosa personally appeared in court on Monday to post a P30,000 surety bond imposed upon him for his provisional freedom.

Ancheta, of Nova Bus, meanwhile, paid a reduced bail amount of P15,000 early this month as he was unable to come up with the full amount.

The court has withdrawn the August 8 arrest warrants against him and Espinosa for the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with homicide for the death of Estella, whose full name was Lourdes Estella-Simbulan.

Earlier, presiding judge Ralph Lee ordered the arrest of the two bus drivers after agreeing with the findings of the Quezon City prosecutors’ office that there is probable cause to justify the issuance of the warrants.

Assistant city prosecutor Ronald Torrijos filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with homicide against the two for their liability in Estella’s death.

Estella died on the night of May 13 while riding a taxi on her way to a friends’ gathering at the U.P. Ayala Land Technohub along Commonwealth Ave.

Ancheta is the driver of the speeding Nova bus, which first sideswiped the taxi the journalist was riding in, while Espinosa’s bus rammed the taxi at its back a few seconds later.

Estella died of head injuries as she was pinned in the backseat of the mangled taxi driven by Vito Jagunos.