By Mikhail Franz Flores
Veteran journalist and University of the Philippines Professor Lourdes Simbulan died in a car accident on Friday. She was 54.
Police investigator Nelson Apostol said the taxi she was in was hit by a Universal Guiding Star bus in front of UP-Ayalaland Technohub along Commonwealth Avenue at 6 pm.
She was pronounced dead on arrival at General Malvar Hospital. The bus driver fled on foot while taxi driver Vito Jugunos of New Manila, Quezon City surrendered to the police. According to Vito, the taxi was hit from behind as he was about to park.
“The compartment caved in and hit Simbulan’s head,” Jugunos said in Filipino.
She is survived by her husband, UP Manila professor and former Faculty Regent Roland Simbulan.

Simbulan’s remains will be transferred Saturday to Arlington Memorial Chapels along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City for a three-day wake.
“Prof. Simbulan was a pillar in our mission to become agents of public awareness,” the CMC Student Council said in a statement. Dean Roland Tolentino said the college will hold a memorial service in honor of Simbulan on Tuesday.
Simbulan served as faculty adviser to student organizations Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP-CMC and the UP Journalism Club. With reports from Dean Lozarie.