Journalist's husband files damage suit vs bus driver

MANILA, Philippines - The husband of journalist Lourdes “Chit” Simbulan filed yesterday a supplemental complaint before the fiscal against Daniel Espinosa, saying he intends to claim damages against the bus driver.

”After her death, I had, and continue to have trouble sleeping. I also experienced, and continue to experience, serious anxiety and great mental anguish, she being my sole companion and soulmate,” Roland Simbulan said in his affidavit filed before Assistant City Prosecutor Ronald Torijos.

Simbulan said he and his wife were supposed to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this year.

“The absence of one is unthinkable and may be unbearable. Her sudden, unexpected and violent death has therefore deeply shocked and traumatized me, and caused me great emotional distress,” he said. “Because of this I have been advised to seek professional help for Chit’s sudden, unexpected and violent demise.”

Torijos is hearing the complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property and abandonment of one’s own victim against Espinosa.

Espinosa, driver of bus firm Universal Guiding Star, surrendered after days in hiding when he was implicated in Simbulan’s death since his vehicle smashed into the taxicab carrying the journalist along Commonwealth Avenue on the night of May 13.

But in his yet-to-be-filed counter-affidavit, Espinosa denied any liability in Simbulan’s death. He said he could not be blamed for the accident because the taxi, driven by Vito Jagunos, ended up in the path of his bus after it was hit by a Nova bus, whose driver was racing with another Nova bus driver.

Espinosa’s lawyer, Salvador Panelo, decided to hold off on filing the counter-affidavit so he could incorporate their answer to Simbulan’s supplemental complaint.

Simbulan said in his supplemental complaint that he incurred P350,000 in funeral expenses. He said he intends to claim all possible civil liabilities arising from Espinosa’s “criminal act, including but not limited to, actual, moral and exemplary damages, the exact amounts of which I will prove during trial. I also intend to claim attorney’s fees.”