Bus driver in journalist's death surfaces

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  – Daniel Espinosa, the driver of the speeding Universal Guiding Star bus that rammed last May 13 a taxicab, killing journalist and University of the Philippines professor Lourdes “Chit” Estella-Simbulan, surrendered here late Thursday night to Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

His relatives accompanied Espinosa when he went to Duterte’s office inside the Sangguniang Panglungsod building at around 11 p.m.

He surrendered after authorities offered a P200,000 reward for anyone who could provide information on his whereabouts.

The driver claimed that after the accident he traveled to Davao City by bus and arrived in Davao last May 17.

Espinosa claimed that he went into hiding because he feared for his life after he learned that his victim was a prominent journalist.

Simbulan died after Espinosa’s bus rammed the taxi that she was riding along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Espinosa is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and damage to property and abandonment of one’s own victim that were filed at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

A special team of personnel from the government was created last Monday to track and apprehend reckless drivers along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and along Edsa.

Police said Espinosa had sought refuge at his relatives’ house in Toril district in Davao. His relatives also arranged for his surrender to Duterte.

Duterte assured Espinosa of his safety and provided him a lawyer.

The vice mayor immediately called lawyer Salvador Panelo who has agreed to be Espinosa’s counsel.

Duterte also turned Espinosa over to Davao City police chief Senior Superintendent Rene Aspera.

Duterte also gave money for the fare of Espinosa and his sister and security escorts on a Philippine Airlines flight yesterday noon to Manila where he would be turned over to the Quezon City police.

Meanwhile, the police said that despite the apparent decrease in the incidents of media killings this year, Task Force Usig has intensified efforts to protect members of the media.

Director Arturo Cacdac Jr., Task Force Usig chief, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to coordinate with media men, militants and activists who have threats.

“We are prioritizing the investigation of unsolved killings of party-list members and media personalities as well as its immediate solution and to prosecute the perpetrators,” said Cacdac, who is concurrent Director for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM).

TF Usig reported that there has been a significant decrease in the number of media killings and the last incident recorded was the murder of Dr. Gerry Ortega, Palawan-based radio broadcaster and an advocate of environment protection, in Puerto Princesa City last Jan. 24.

The task force also included in its records the death of broadcaster Merlin Sumera last March 22 and the accident of Estella-Simbulan last May 13.

– With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Reinir Padua