OTICO, FORMER INQUIRER DESK EDITOR; 79

Journalist Rustico Otico died of a lingering illness in Mojon, Antique, on Feb. 7. He would have turned 80 in October.

Otico, Rustie to friends, relatives and coworkers, was a desk editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

He worked at the premartial law Manila Chronicle and later at other newspapers prior to his stint with the Inquirer.

He took up aeronautical engineering at Feati Institute of Technology and, while working at the Presidential Arm for Community Development (PACD), put up a Western Visayas paper, The Trail, with PACD coworkers. Relatives said this stage in Otico’s career developed his passion for journalism.

Otico is survived by his siblings Editha, Victoria, Martin, Manuel and Corazon.

Interment at his hometown of Patnongon, Antique, has yet to be scheduled.