Palace mourns Juan Flavier’s passing

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Thursday expressed sympathy with the family of former senator Juan Flavier who died due to complications from pneumonia.

“We join the Filipino people in mourning the death of former Senator and Health Secretary Juan Flavier,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

Juan Flavier. FILE PHOTO

“As a public servant, he championed the cause of countryside development and upgrading the quality of public health care,” he added.

Flavier, who also served as a secretary of the Department of Health, became popular for his “Let’s DOH it” health campaign slogan.

The DOH describes him in his profile as “buoyant and hilarious,” especially in implementing and promoting the agency’s mass immunization campaign.

Coloma said Flavier “served with integrity and endeared himself to the (public) by dint of his humility, simplicity, jovial character and common touch.”

“Truly, he was an exemplary Filipino leader,” he said.

Meanwhile, former senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, who used to work with Flavier, said the former senator and health secretary “was a heroic icon in the struggle to inform public of the deadly menace of cigarette smoking.”

“Against tremendous odds, he succeeded in requiring cig packets to carry the warning of the toxic effects of smoking,” he said.

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