The passing of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at the age of 101 marks the closure of his years in politics. Born on February 14, 1924, Enrile’s extraordinary political longevity placed him at the center of nearly every major national crisis for six decades. He served in key roles, including Justice Secretary, Defense Minister, the 21st Senate President (2008–2013), and, finally, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel (CPLC).
Enrile secured a law degree from the University of the Philippines in 1953, where he graduated cum laude and salutatorian. He obtained his Master of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1955, specializing in taxation and corporate reorganization, and famously scored a perfect 100% in Commercial Law on the Philippine Bar. His expertise positioned him for high executive roles, serving as Undersecretary of Finance, Acting Insurance Commissioner, and Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (1966–1968) before his appointment as Justice Secretary (1968–1970) and Defense Minister (1970–1986).
As Defense Minister, Enrile was a central pillar of the Martial Law government, overseeing military operations during the regime’s repressive years. The declaration of Martial Law itself hinged on the controversial alleged ambush of Enrile on September 22, 1972. This incident was officially cited by Marcos Sr. to justify Proclamation 1081. Enrile later admitted in 1986 that the ambush was staged, only to contradict this in his 2012 memoir, denying the claim. This pattern of strategic reversals earned him the enduring moniker from President Corazon Aquino: Pambansang Balimbing(National Political Turncoat).
In February 1986, Enrile dramatically broke with the Marcos administration, triggering the People Power Revolution. His rebellion, alongside reformist generals, was shielded by millions of civilian protesters mobilized by Catholic Cardinal Jaime Sin, ultimately forcing Marcos Sr. into exile.
Post-EDSA, Enrile proved his electoral staying power, serving four full terms as Senator over nearly three decades, accumulating 23 years in the upper chamber. He reached the apex of his legislative career as Senate President from 2008 to 2013. Under his leadership, the Senate passed vital laws, including the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Extension, the Anti-Torture Act, and the Expanded Senior Citizens Act .
Enrile’s later career was overshadowed by the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or pork barrel scandal. He was indicted for plunder and 15 counts of graft stemming from the alleged funneling of P172.8 million of his PDAF allocations (2004–2010) into bogus non-government organizations in exchange for kickbacks. The resulting national outrage led the Supreme Court to abolish the entire PDAF system in 2013.
After years of legal proceedings, Enrile was acquitted on all counts. He was first cleared of the plunder charge on October 4, 2024, as the prosecution failed to prove he received the minimum P50 million threshold required for the offense. On October 24, 2025, the Sandiganbayan acquitted him of the remaining 15 graft charges, ruling that “the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” No civil liability was imposed on him. Enrile attended the final promulgation virtually, appearing frail in a hospital setting.
In 2022, at the age of 98, Enrile made his final political return, accepting the post of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel (CPLC) under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. His appointment symbolized the closing of a historical circle. He quickly demonstrated his enduring influence by successfully intervening to block the attempt by then-Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez to create and assume a powerful new post, preventing an internal power grab. Enrile served as CPLC until his death at 101.
