Philip Juico, former DAR Secretary; 78

MANILA, Philippines — Philip “Popoy” Juico, former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) secretary and a prominent figure in the country’s sports administration who headed the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the national athletics federation, died on Oct. 31. He was 78.

His son Vincent announced his death in a Facebook post on Sunday, saying Juico passed away at 8:18 p.m. at Makati Medical Center. No cause of death was disclosed. Funeral arrangements will be announced once confirmed.

Juico served as agrarian reform secretary from 1987 to 1989 under President Corazon Aquino before becoming PSC chair from 1996 to 1998 during the administration of President Fidel Ramos.

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His tenure at the department was clouded by the Garchitorena land deal in Camarines Sur, which came under investigation over allegations that an overpriced property purchase could have cost the government millions. Juico resigned in 1989 but denied wrongdoing. The Sandiganbayan acquitted him in July 1992, finding no evidence that he had attempted to defraud the government.

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Juico was vice president of the Asian Athletics Association and chaired its School and Youth Commission.

READ: POC officially lifts persona non grata on Patafa chief Philip Juico

In sports, Juico became a leading figure in Philippine athletics, serving as president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association from 2014 to 2022. He was later named chair emeritus.

His tenure included a highly publicized dispute with pole vaulter EJ Obiena over financial liquidations and funding, which drew attention to tensions between elite athletes and sports federations.

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In the academe, he was dean of the Graduate School of Business of De La Salle Professional Schools from 2002 to 2008. De La Salle University inducted him into its Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 for his contributions to Philippine sports.

He is survived by his wife, Margie, and children Dinggay, Vincent, Joseph and Mayen. —With a report from Inquirer Research