Former Finance chief Jayme passes on

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Finance mourned the passing of former President Corazon Aquino's Finance chief Vicente Jayme on Thursday, remembering his campaign for good governance "at a time when his country needed it most."

"When (Jayme) was appointed by President Aquino, Ting was a brilliant Finance Secretary whose legacy will be remembered as having steered the Philippines away from the brink of financial collapse," Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said in a message of condolence issued on Thursday.

Jayme, who co-founded the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and led the Asian Development Bank from 1990 to 1997, is also regarded for his prudence in enacting policies in a period of the country's history when it was still rebuilding from the Martial Law days.

"We want to let Ting Jayme’s family and friends know that the DOF family that he helped build condoles with them as well," Purisima said.