A Quezon City court has handed down a two-year prison sentence to two bus drivers involved in a road crash that led to the death of veteran journalist Chit Estella in 2011. Judge Ralph Lee of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 83 found Daniel Espinosa and Victor Ancheta guilty of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with homicide in a decision dated April 22.
The court ordered the registered owners of Universal Guiding Star Bus Line Corp. and Nova Auto Transport Bus Corporation to pay over P7.46 million in moral and exemplary damages to Estella’s family. Estella, also known as Lourdes Estella-Simbulan, was on her way to a dinner at Ayala Technohub when the crash occurred on Commonwealth Avenue.
Espinosa, driving the Universal Guiding Star bus, was traveling at a fast pace and collided with the taxi Estella was in, causing her fatal head injuries. Both bus drivers had the chance to avoid the collision if they had exercised reasonable care and precaution while driving.
Estella’s death prompted the enforcement of road safety laws in the Philippines, including the Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016. She was known for her contributions as an academician and journalist, with a career that included stints at the Pinoy Times, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and the Manila Times.
She was described as a “compassionate, but principled and straight-as-an-arrow journalist” by her colleagues. Estella also dedicated a decade to teaching at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication. A memorial service for Estella 13 years ago saw the planting of Narra and Fire trees in front of the UP CMC Film Center, which still stand today.
