Former senator Juan Flavier passes away

MANILA, Philippines - Former Health secretary and Sen. Juan Flavier passed away Thursday afternoon after succumbing to pneumonia. He was 79.

Flavier graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of the Philippines Manila and a master's degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University in the United States.

He was known for heading the country's first HIV prevention program and campaigned for the use of contraceptives, earning the ire of the Catholic church during that time.

He was appointed Health secretary by President Fidel Ramos in 1992, and served the position before he ran for and won as senator in 1995. He was re-elected in 2001 and served until 2007.

Among the laws he authored were the Anti-Money Laundering Law, Poverty Alleviation Law, Clean Air Act and Traditional Medicine Law.