QCPD to reinvestigate Simbulan accident

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will reinvestigate the accident that claimed the life of veteran journalist Lourdes Simbulan after bus driver Daniel Espinosa’s lawyer asked authorities to formally include in its probe two other buses that reportedly hit the taxi carrying the victim, an official said yesterday.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent George Regis said he “ordered a reinvestigation” of the case following the allegations made by Espinosa and his lawyer, Salvador Panelo, that two Nova Bus Transport drivers were racing when the accident happened.

“I want concrete evidence to ferret out the truth and maybe to reinforce the traffic investigator’s initial findings,” he said, despite having already filed charges against Espinosa before the city prosecutor’s office.

Panelo said yesterday he was also submitting his client’s affidavit to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to formally ask the agency to include the Nova Bus Transport in its investigation.

‘Victim of circumstance’

In an interview yesterday, Panelo said his client was a “victim of circumstance.” He said the proximate cause of Simbulan’s death was the “negligence” of the cabbie driving for her and the racing Nova Bus drivers.

Espinosa was earlier tagged in Simbulan’s death after the Universal Guiding Star bus unit he was driving collided with the cab carrying the journalist along Commonwealth Avenue. He was turned over to the QCPD at past midnight on Saturday after he surrendered to Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte following a few days in hiding.

Yesterday, Panelo showed to The STAR the mangled taxicab that carried Simbulan. The lawyer pointing to green damage marks at the back of the vehicle, running through the right side of the cab.

According to Panelo, the green paint came from the body color of a Nova bus unit, noting that Universal Guiding Star buses are orange.

He said the green stains at the back of the cab, where the supposed point of impact is located, indicated that the first bus (allegedly a Nova bus) not only sideswiped the cab but actually hit it directly in the back.

Panelo also showed the skid marks along Commonwealth Avenue meters away from where the bus driven by Espinosa had stopped after it had climbed the gutter.

“The skid marks validate the statement that there’s another bus involved,” he said.

According to Panelo, there was no way Espinosa could have avoided hitting the cab carrying Simbulan. Citing the account of the beleaguered bus driver, the two other “racing” buses came from behind Espinosa’s vehicle.

When they overtook Espinosa’s bus, the two almost collided, preventing Espinosa from seeing what was in front of them, Panelo said.

“When the two other buses separated, he was shocked that the cab was already in front,” he said.

“He even drove the bus to climb into the gutter. Had he not done that, maybe the cabbie would not have survived also,” Panelo added, blaming the cabbie for driving in the yellow lane reserved for buses.

MMDA identifies Nova Bus driver

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino said the MMDA may have identified the Nova bus involved in Simbulan’s tragic accident.

Vito Jugunos, driver of the ill-fated Abu Abbey (TXH-532) that ferried Simbulan, earlier claimed that before his taxi was hit by the Universal Guiding Star bus (UVC-343) driven by Espinosa, it was sideswiped by a Nova bus. Jugunos said he failed to jot down the bus’ license plates.

Tolentino said a check of the buses that left the Fairview Organized Bus Route (OBR) terminal last May 13 showed four Nova buses leaving for Baclaran. Of the five, the MMDA identified a Nova bus (TXX-988) driven by one Estrelito Talacsan as having left the Fairview OBR at 6:14 p.m. The bus then returned to the Fairview OBR at 8:05 pm.

“There is a great possibility that this bus is involved. We will submit this information to the police,” Tolentino said.

Bus passengers urged to testify

Tolentino appealed to the passengers of the Universal Guiding Star bus involved in the accident that claimed Simbulan’s life to come forward and help shed light on the accident.

“We call on those involved. We are asking witnesses, passengers and those present at the scene to come forward if you have not already done so. Do your part in bringing to light the information and circumstances surrounding Simbulan’s death,” he said in a conference held at the MMDA office in Makati City yesterday.

Tolentino said the MMDA is in close coordination with the Quezon City Police District and Simbulan’s family regarding the case.

“We will be presenting official reports, nothing based from hearsay or speculations. To stress our overall aim which is to bring into justice the persons or entities that are responsible to the untimely death of Simbulan,” he said.

Tolentino also denied allegations that he is protecting Nova Bus, saying he does not personally know its owners and operators. He added that if he was protecting the bus line, the MMDA would not have recommended the revocation of its franchise when it joined the metropolis-wide bus strike last November.