By Gabriela Baron

Former Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary (DENR) Fulgencio “Jun” Factoran Jr. passed away on Palm Sunday, April 5 following a lingering illness. He was 76.

Factoran was appointed by the late former President Corazon Aquino as deputy executive secretary from 1986 to 1987, before he was designated as the secretary of DENR from 1987 to 1992.

The former Environment secretary was a human rights lawyer during the Marcos dictatorship and co-founded Mabini (Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity, and Nationalism Inc.)

Factoran also served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Electrification Administration; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office; Member, Board of Trustees of the Development Academy of the Philippines; and member of the Board of Trustees of the Government Service Insurance System from 1998 to 2004.

Factoran is survived by his four children with his late wife Kaye Mesina.