Former Congressman Roque Ablan Jr. and son, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan.
LAOAG CITY -- Lawyer Roque Ablan Jr., a former Ilocos Norte congressman for eight terms, has passed away on Monday at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City at the age of 85.
His son, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan, confirmed his father's death in a Facebook post.
"My dad passed away peacefully this morning. Lucky to be at his bedside when he died, Ablan said. My dad lived a full 85 years," he said in his Facebook post.
For months, he was in and out of the hospital before he died of kidney failure and other complications.
He is survived by common-law wife Victoria along with nine children, 23 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers and mass cards, the Ablan family requests that donations may be channeled to the Gov. Roque and Manuela Ablan Foundation, Inc. at BPI Account 00-9318-8667 to set up a fund for the needy, Asst. Sec. Ablan said.
Ablan, a long time ally of former President Ferdinand Marcos, served as representative of the province’s first district in the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1973, then from 1987 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2004.
In Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa Marcos was among the first to condole with the Ablan family. (PNA)
