(Manila Times) HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd mourned the death of former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd on Thursday, calling the former chief executive a “good man” and a professional worker.

“I am saddened by the loss of a former president who has served the country in the best possible way that he could, and I am sure the lives that the people that he touched will be saddened by this shocking news,” Duque told reporters after the press conference of the visit of Israeli health experts.

Duque served as a chairman of the Civil Service Commission during the Aquino administration.

He described his relationship with Aquino as “professional”, adding that he was “shocked” to learn about Aquino’s death and said that he did not know that he had a lingering illness.