LEGAZPI CITY — Albay province is mourning the death of former Albay second district representative Carlos “Papay” Imperial, at about 9:30 am Sunday of Pneumonia complications at the Medical City Hospital in Pasig City.

He was 79 years old.

Imperial was rushed to Manila for medical check up  before the Holy Week and was confined at the Medical city Hospital for treatment as his body resistance grew weak. His body will be brought to his residence in Rawis, Legazpi City on Friday, April 16, according to Susan Ante, his personal secretary.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda formed a special committee to coordinate with the family of Imperial for preparations on the wake and burial, and ordered that black cloths be draped around the provincial capitol and the extension buildings, and the Albay Astrodome; and the Philippine flag be flown in half-mast in all towns and cities of the province

Salceda said Imperial’s death is a great loss to the province and is a great cause for mourning among those his life had touched in way or the other. Among the many legacies Imperial gave to the province are the Bicol University as a state university and the upgrading of the Albay Provincial Hospital to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital.

Salceda also asked for a one day  suspension of all political campaign  activities including  the airing and the sound trackingof radio ads for one day, on Tuesday, as a way for “people to be one and united in mourning the loss of a great man,” he added

“Papay was  both a friend and a patron to me, the greatness of his spirit is such that he will continue to serve us for the rest of our lives through his institutional legacies,” Salceda said.

Imperial had suffered stroke twice due to hypertension when he was a member of the house of congress, but recovered through therapies.

Imperial  was a known political patriarch and a founding member of the “Bicol Block”, a strong political group committed  haggling development programs and projects for the region in exchange for delivering a united vote from the Bicol peninsula.

The well known members of the Bicol Block during the 1950’s to the 80’s were the Albertos  of Catanduanes, Espinosas of Masbate, Fuentebellas and Alfelors of Camarines Sur, the Pimentels of Camarines Norte and the Imperials of Albay.

Imperial a Nacionalista Party stalwart during the  pre-martial law years was elected for two terms in  the House of Congress as 2nd District Representative in 1965 to 1972. He again ran and was elected Assemblyman of the Kilusan ng Bagong Lipunan (KBL) during the Martial Law era from 1978 to 1984.

After the EDSA  People Power revolt, Imperial was again elected Congressman of the 2nd District of Albay  from 1987 to 2004.

Imperial  a widower is survived by his son Snooky, who has just started his own political career and is running for the provincial board in the May 10 polls.

Imperial finished his elementary, secondary and collegiate studies an the Ateneo De Manila University, where he earned his Bachelor Degrees in laws in 1956 and subsequently was among the top passers at the BAR. He then continued his master of laws  degree in Harvard University in Massachusetts, USA in 1960.

Imperial  was born in July 13, 1930 in Daraga town  in Albay.

He belong to a big political clan, being the son of the late  Senator Domingo Imperial a solon in 1934; and  the nephew of late senators Leoncio and Carlos  Imperial and the late Albay Gov. Jose ’Diding’ Imperial.

(As circulated by Mr. Ex V. Rieza, Albay-PIO, via e-mail.)

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