President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday paid tribute to the late Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, describing him as one of the most enduring and respected public servants in Philippine history.
“We say goodbye to one of the most enduring and respected public servants our country has ever known,” President Marcos said in a statement following Enrile’s passing.
“For over 50 years, Juan Ponce Enrile dedicated his life to serving the Filipino people, helping guide the country through some of its most challenging and defining moments,” he added.
President Marcos lauded Enrile’s intellect and unwavering commitment to public service, noting that even in his final years, the veteran statesman remained “brilliant, sharp, and firm in his belief that law and governance must always serve the Filipino people.”
“His passing marks the close of a chapter in our nation’s history,” Mr. Marcos said.
“But the mark he leaves behind in law, in governance, and in the hearts of those he served will never be forgotten,” the president added.
Enrile, who passed away Thursday at 101, was a key figure in Philippine politics for more than half a century.
Enrile died peacefully at home on Thursday afternoon, his family announced.
His daughter, Katrina, confirmed his passing in a family statement, saying the former Senate president took his last breath surrounded by his family in the comfort of their home. He was 101.
“It was his heartfelt wish to take his final rest at home, with his family by his side,” she said.
“We were blessed to honor that wish and to be with him in those sacred final moments,” she added.
