Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile passed away on Thursday, November 13, at the age of 101.
The news was confirmed by his daughter, Katrina Ponce Enrile.
“It is with profound love and gratitude that my father, Juan Ponce Enrile, 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 said in a social media post.
Earlier, Senator Jinggoy Estrada revealed that Enrile had been confined in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to pneumonia.
Born in Gonzaga, Cagayan, Enrile graduated from law school in 1955 and first entered public service as Bureau of Customs Commissioner from 1966 to 1968, later serving as Undersecretary of Finance and Secretary of Justice under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
He was appointed Defense Secretary during the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, becoming one of the most powerful figures in the Marcos administration.
In 1986, Enrile withdrew his support from Marcos Sr. and joined then–Lieutenant General Fidel Ramos and Gringo Honasan in the EDSA People Power Revolution.
He first won a Senate seat in 1987 and served multiple terms until 2016, including as Senate President from 2008 to 2013.
Enrile faced several controversies, including the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) between 2004 and 2010, but was recently acquitted by the Sandiganbayan.
After an unsuccessful Senate run in 2019, Enrile was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel in 2022 — a position he held until his passing.