NEWSBRIEFS

LAOAG CITY

Former Inquirer man wins in poetry contest

A former Inquirer correspondent in La Union won second place in the Ilocano poetry writing contest in the 4th Tugade Iluko Literary Awards.

Peter La. Julian, who reported events in La Union and the Ilocos region for more than 10 years, won for his piece titled “Taltalem Kadi Dagiti Itlogda.”

Joel Manuel, principal of the Banna National High School in Espiritu, Ilocos Norte, bagged the top prize with his short story  “Itlog ni Kabinian” (Egg of Kabinian) and his poem “Kastoy nga Imbunubonko ti Sarita iti Danum, Imnas” (This was How I Sowed the Story in the Water).

Other winners in the short story category were the late University of Baguio Prof. Clarita Sumahit with her entry “Iti Ballasiw” (Across the River), who placed second; and Fe Malucay of Mankayan, Benguet, (“Kaniaw” or Ritual), who placed third.

All winning short stories and poems were published in the Bannawag, the weekly Iluko magazine.

The Tugade Literary Awards (Tila) is the Ilokano version of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. Tila is sponsored by businessman and philanthropist Gabriel Tugade, formerly of Ilocos Norte and who is now based in California. Inquirer Northern Luzon

ANGELES CITY

Ex-Irish cop survives attack

A former Irish police officer, who operates nightclubs in this city’s entertainment district, survived an ambush staged by unidentified men shortly after midnight on Saturday.

Gunmen fired at Richard Agnew, 56, and his girlfriend, Elsie Magayunes, 21, as they drove toward his home at Josefaville 2 subdivision in Amsic village. Agnew suffered superficial wounds on the face and arms while Magayunes was unhurt.

Agnew used to be the president of the Association of Bar Owners in Angeles City. He was a former officer in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the police force in Northern Ireland.

In September last year, Agnew’s business partner, former Irish police officer David Balmer, 54, and his live-in partner, Elma De Guia, 26, were murdered at the guestroom of Agnew’s home. Agnew was questioned for the murder.

Agnew was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation after a raid on Blue Nile Bar to rescue six female workers aged between 11 and 13. He was released without charge, and was deported to Thailand. He returned to the country a few months later. Jun Malig, Inquirer Central Luzon

LUCENA CITY

Suspected drug pusher killed

A suspected drug pusher aboard a motorcycle was killed by two gunmen in an ambush in Barangay Cotta on Sunday.

Police Officer 3 Randy Buenaventura, Lucena police investigator, said the victim, Jonathan Manalo Alcala, 41, was about to enter Saint Jude Subdivision on the city outskirts at around

11:30 a.m. when he was shot several times in different parts of the body.

The attackers escaped aboard the victim’s motorcycle. Policemen later found the vehicle at the city proper.

Investigators found two plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be “shabu” and P40,000 cash from the victim’s pocket, Buenaventura said. Delfin Mallari, Inquirer Southern Luzon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

Ex-Constabulary official slain

Unidentified assailants gunned down a 63-year-old man in Barangay Agusan on Sunday noon.

Inspector Kinthur Tandog of the police Scene of Crime Operatives said Romeo Domingo, a retired member of the Philippine Constabulary (PC), and resident of Barangay Agusan, was on his way to his brother’s house when two motorcycle-riding men shot him.

Hector Domingo, the victim’s brother, said he did not know why his brother was killed. “He retired long ago, so this is not in any way connected with his work as a PC,” Hector said. Bobby Lagsa, Inquirer Mindanao

LUCENA CITY

New Solcom commander

Major General Alan Luga on Friday formally assumed the post of commander of the Armed Forces’ Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) with jurisdiction in Southern Luzon.

Luga, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1981, replaced Maj. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario during the transfer of ceremony held at Camp Nakar here and presided by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Jesse Dellosa. Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon