Roque Ablan Jr.
Roque "Roquito" Ravelo Ablan Jr. was a Filipino politician who served as representative from Ilocos Norte. He was one of the most prominent politicians in Ilocos Norte, having served eight terms in Congress.
Early life and education
He was born on April 22, 1932, in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. He was the son of former Ilocos Norte governor Roque Blanco Ablan Sr. and Manuela Ravelo. He graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law where he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity with Ninoy Aquino and Mel Mathay in 1950.Ablan was known to be a close ally of President Ferdinand Marcos. In an interview, Ablan mentioned that he ran errands to deliver bar examination review materials to a then-detained Marcos.
Political career
He was first elected as Ilocos Norte provincial board member in 1963, and concurrently served as Chairman of the League of Provincial Board Members in the Philippines until 1967.In 1967, he was elected into the House of Representatives through a 1967 [Philippine House of Representatives special elections|special election] and served until 1972. He was also elected to the 1971 Constitutional Convention of 1971|Constitutional Convention] as a delegate from Ilocos Norte. After the 1986 People Power Revolution, he was again elected as representative of Ilocos Norte and served from 1987 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2010, respectively. During these terms, he chaired the congressional committees on Housing, Dangerous Drugs, and Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy. Among his notable legislation include the Rent Control Act of 2009, the Death Penalty Law, and the Magna Carta for Migrant Workers.
In 1998, he ran for Ilocos Norte governor but lost to Bongbong Marcos.
Legal career
In 1968, Ablan and bar topnotcher Amado M. Santiago, Jr. co-founded Ablan & Santiago, a law firm which held office at Ermita, Manila. Ablan later on left the firm to run for public office.Military service
Ablan served as a soldier under the 5th [Special Forces Group (United States)|5th Special Forces Group] of the United States in Vietnam. Although an incumbent Ilocos Norte Representative, he was also a member of the Philippine Civic Action Group in South Vietnam from 1968 to 1975.Death
Ablan died on March 26, 2018, in St. Luke's Medical Center, Taguig. He is buried in the Maharlika cemetery in Laoag.He is survived by his nine children; six from his wife Carlina Reyes Ablan, namely Anna Marie, Chona Marie, Eva Marie, Roque III, Roven Maxime, and Victor Julio and three additional children, namely Roderick, Valerie Anne, and Department of [Trade and Industry (Philippines)|DTI] assistant secretary Michael Kristian.