JUAN Ponce Enrile, a towering figure in Philippine politics who served as Senate President and most recently as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s chief presidential legal counsel, has passed away at the age of 101.
Enrile’s daughter, Katrina, announced his death on Facebook, stating that he “peacefully returned to his Creator on November 13, 2025, at 4:21 p.m., surrounded by our family in the comfort of our home.” She added that it was his wish to spend his final moments at home with his family.
President Marcos Jr., in a speech in Malacañang, hailed Enrile as “an icon in the pantheon of Philippine history.”
Enrile’s career spanned over five decades, marked by periods of immense power and significant controversy. He served in both the executive and legislative branches, beginning in 1966 under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. He held various positions, including finance undersecretary, acting finance secretary, Secretary of Justice, and Secretary of National Defense. He was a key figure in the Marcos Sr. regime, serving as defense secretary during the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.
In 1986, Enrile, along with then Armed Forces Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos, withdrew support from Marcos Sr., a move that helped trigger the EDSA Revolution and the installation of Corazon “Cory” Aquino as President.
He later served in the Senate for multiple terms, holding the position of Senate President from 2008 to 2013. His tenure as Senate President was marked by both legislative achievements and political clashes.
In 2014, Enrile was charged with plunder in connection with the misuse of pork barrel funds. He surrendered and spent over a year under hospital arrest before being released on bail in 2015. In 2024, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Enrile, along with Jessica “Gigi” Reyes and Janet Napoles, of the plunder charges, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Despite the controversies that punctuated his career, Enrile remained a prominent figure in Philippine politics, returning to public service in 2022 as President Marcos Jr.’s chief legal counsel. His death marks the end of an era in Philippine political history.
