SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija — Multi-awarded and veteran journalist Anselmo “Ka Elmo” Roque succumbed to a lingering illness at the Sacred Heart of Jesus in San Jose City, this province at about 5:05 Monday. He was 80.
His remains lie in state at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Social Hall in this city. The details of interment are not yet certain.
He survived by his wife, Corazon; children, Apollo Jose, Hiyasmin and Oliver Lee and six grandchildren.
A recipient of multiple awards in journalism for agriculture, Roque was a topnotch news correspondent based in Nueva Ecija who wrote for decades for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
He supplied readers of Punto! Central Luzon with most important news on agriculture, among other relevant issues.
As president of the Correspondents Association of Nueva Ecija (CANE), Roque headed a media forum which was aired in different radio stations in the province.
He was also an adviser of the Nueva Ecija Press Club, Inc. (NEPCI), the mother organization of newsmen in the province.
He retired as director of the CLSU Public Affairs Office.
A writer of social concerns and literature, Roque was also a Palanca awardee.