By ANSBERT JOAQUIN | Olongapo City

Former Zambales Governor Vicente P. Magsaysay passed away on April 13, Monday, at the Baypointe Hospital in the Subic Bay Freeport, his family confirmed.

He was 80 years old.

Reports said that the former governor, known to many as “Govic” or “Vicmag,” was in his residence at Cubi Point inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone when he suffered a heart attack.

He was immediately brought to Baypointe Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at past 6:00 p.m.

Before this, he was undergoing dialysis treatment for several months at the same hospital.

Magsaysay served as Zambales governor for 22 straight years, from 1968 to 1986, most of them under Martial Law.

His long service was ended only by the appointment of Amor Deloso by former President Corazon Aquino, who unseated dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 following the People Power Revolt.

Magsaysay reclaimed his seat in 1998 and finished three straight terms as Zambales governor until 2007.

The governor was famous for his infrastructure projects, particularly the “GoVic Highways” that cut travel time to different towns in the province.

At the time of his death, he was the chairman of the board of the Philippine Postal Savings Bank, a post he held since January 22, 2009.

Magsaysay is survived by his children Jesus Vicente (JV), Angel, Mary Rose Lourdes, and Victor Francis Ross. His wife Rosellyn Enciso-Magsaysay passed away in 2014.

The Magsaysays are one of the oldest political families in Zambales, going as far back as 1953 when Ramon Magsaysay, the governor’s uncle, became the seventh president of the Philippines.

Meanwhile the governor’s daughter-in-law, Mitos, served as Zambales First District representative for three consecutive terms, from 2004 to 2013, and daughter Angel was Zambales vice governor in 2016-2019.

On Monday, members of the Magsaysay clan paid their tribute to the family’s patriarch.

“He led a life of unimaginable selfless public service,” daughter Mary Rose said in a Facebook post.

“No words but thank you for everything,” posted Mitos, the wife of son JV.

“Rest in peace, Lolo. You have done so many things for Zambales and our kababayans,” Dr. Ma. Carmen Magsaysay, one of his granddaughters, also posted.

“You are a legend,” she added.  — With a report from RUFFIE CRUZ