Dinky Soliman, former Philippine Social Welfare secretary and civil society leader, dies

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman (pic) died on Sunday at the age of 68.

Known for her signature single-streaked hair colour, Soliman made a name for herself as a civil society leader and a crusader against corruption in government.

Soliman served as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and one of the original Cabinet members under the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III.

She also held the same post in the government of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but resigned in 2005 in light of the Hello Garci scandal. She was among the Cabinet secretaries who resigned en mass at the time amid allegations of corruption.

Prior to her work in government, she studied Social Work and Non-Profit Management at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at the Harvard University.

Several government officials that Soliman was close with and had worked with have expressed their condolences to the bereaved family.