Roque Ablan, Jr.

Roque "Roquito" Ravelo Ablan Jr. (April 22, 1932 – March 26, 2018) 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.

Ablan was known to be a close ally of President Ferdinand 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 special election and served until 1972. He was also elected to the 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.

Military service Ablan served as a soldier under the 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 (PHILCAG) 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.