End of an Era: Juan Ponce Enrile Dies at 101

Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the most enduring and polarizing figures in Philippine politics whose career spanned the rule of both Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has died at the age of 101.

Born on February 14, 1924, in Gonzaga, Cagayan, Enrile rose from humble beginnings as the illegitimate son of Alfonso Ponce Enrile, a lawyer and politician, and Petra Furagganan, a fisherman’s stepdaughter. His brilliance and determination propelled him from poverty to power. He graduated cum laude from the Ateneo de Manila Universityand the University of the Philippines College of Law, where he ranked 11th in the 1953 Bar Examinations. He later earned a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University.

Trusted Ally of Marcos Sr.

Enrile began his political career as a trusted protégé of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., serving as Justice Secretary, Defense Minister, and head of the Philippine Coconut Authority. He played a key role in the planning and enforcement of Martial Law in 1972 and was one of Marcos’s closest advisers during the dictatorship.

However, by 1986, Enrile broke away from the regime and joined then–Constabulary Chief Fidel V. Ramos in a military uprising that ignited the EDSA People Power Revolution, leading to Marcos’s downfall and the restoration of democracy.

Political Survivor

In the years after EDSA, Enrile rebuilt his political career, serving four terms in the Senate, including as Senate President from 2008 to 2013. He gained renewed prominence during the 2012 impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, where he presided with authority and impartiality.

Despite facing accusations of corruption and controversies linked to his martial law role, Enrile remained one of the country’s most experienced and influential statesmen.

Full Circle Under Marcos Jr.

In a remarkable twist of history, Enrile returned to government service in 2022, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.appointed him Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. The appointment symbolized a full circle — the beginning and end of his public life under two Marcos presidencies.

Legacy of Power and Paradox

Spanning more than seven decades in public service, Enrile’s life reflected the contradictions of Philippine politics — brilliance and controversy, loyalty and rebellion, power and survival.

Juan Ponce Enrile’s passing marks the end of an era — the final chapter in the story of a man who shaped, witnessed, and outlasted the country’s most turbulent times.