Juan Ponce Enrile
Juan Furagganan Ponce Enrile Sr., (born Juan Furagganan; February 14, 1924 – November 13, 2025), was a Filipino politician.[2] He served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Minister. He was Senate President from November 2008 until his resignation on June 5, 2013.[3]
Juan Ponce Enrile | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Enrile in October 2018 | |
| Chief Presidential Legal Counsel | |
| In office June 30, 2022 – November 13, 2025 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Jesus Melchor Quitain |
| Succeeded by | Anna Liza Logan |
| 21st President of the Senate of the Philippines | |
| In office November 17, 2008 – June 5, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Manny Villar |
| Succeeded by | Jinggoy Estrada (Acting) |
| Senate Minority Leader | |
| In office August 24, 2015 – June 30, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Tito Sotto (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Recto |
| In office July 22, 2013 – July 28, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Alan Peter Cayetano |
| Succeeded by | Tito Sotto (Acting) |
| In office July 27, 1987 – January 18, 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Re-established Title last held by Gerardo Roxas |
| Succeeded by | Wigberto Tañada |
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2016 | |
| In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2001 | |
| In office August 15, 1987 – June 30, 1992 | |
| Member of the House of Representatives from Cagayan's 1st district | |
| In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Domingo A. Tuazon |
| Succeeded by | Patricio T. Antonio |
| Member of the Regular Batasang Pambansa from Cagayan | |
| In office June 30, 1984 – March 25, 1986 | |
| Member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa from Region II | |
| In office June 12, 1978 – June 5, 1984 | |
| 15th Minister of National Defense | |
| In office January 4, 1972 – November 23, 1986 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos Corazon Aquino |
| Preceded by | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Succeeded by | Rafael Ileto |
| In office February 9, 1970 – August 27, 1971 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Ernesto Ma |
| Succeeded by | Ferdinand Marcos |
| 36th Secretary of Justice | |
| In office December 17, 1968 – February 7, 1970 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Claudio Teehankee Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Felix Makasiar |
| Undersecretary for Finance | |
| In office January 1, 1966 – December 17, 1968 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs | |
| In office 1966–1968 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Jacinto T. Gavino |
| Succeeded by | Rolando G. Geotina |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Juan Furagganan February 14, 1924[1] Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines[a] |
| Died | November 13, 2025 (aged 101) Makati, Philippines |
| Political party | PMP (2004–2025) |
| Other political affiliations | LDP (2001–2004) Independent (1995–2001) KBL (1978–1987) Nacionalista (1965–1978; 1987–1995) |
| Spouse(s) | Cristina Castañer
(m. 1957) |
| Children | 2, including Jack |
| Relatives | Armida Siguion-Reyna (half-sister) |
| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University (AA) University of the Philippines Diliman (LL.B) Harvard University (LL.M) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer Ponce Enrile, Reyes & Manalastas (1983–2020) |
He planned a coup against President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, however he quickly ended the plans when it was discovered by the government.
In 2022, he officially returned to government as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel in the administration of President Bongbong Marcos.[4] At the time of his death, he was the oldest serving member of the Marcos administration or of the country's cabinet.[5]
Personal life
Enrile was born on February 14, 1924, in Gonzaga, Cagayan, to Petra Furagganan, the stepdaughter of a poor fisherman. He was born out of wedlock, as his father, the Spanish mestizo lawyer and influential provincial politician Alfonso Ponce Enrile, was already married. At the time of his birth, Alfonso served as a representative from the 1st district of Cagayan. He was baptized into the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan) as Juanito Furagganan.[6]> He converted to Roman Catholicism at age 20.[7] As a young man, he was reunited with his father in the City of Manila and took his secondary education at Saint James Academy in Malabon, Rizal. His father took legal steps in changing his name to Juan Ponce Enrile, the name that he would use for his pre-law enrollment.[8]
On February 14, 2024, he turned 100.[9]
On November 11, 2025, Enrile was hospitalized under critical condition for pneumonia in Makati.[10][11] Enrile said that he did not want to die in a hospital, so he was moved back to his home.[12] He died on November 13, 2025 at 4:21 P.M, at the age of 101.[13][14] At the time of his death, he was an active member of President Bongbong Marcos's administration.[5][14]
Juan Ponce Enrile Media
Enrile's high school graduation in 1948
Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile with President Ferdinand Marcos boarding to a Philippine Airlines Boeing 747-200 Presidential Flight
"FM Declares Martial Law"—the headline of the September 24, 1972 issue of the Sunday Express, which was the Sunday edition of the Philippines Daily Express. The Daily Express was the only newspaper allowed to circulate upon the declaration of martial law.
Defense Secretary Enrile (second from right) and Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Eduardo Romualdez (center) meeting U.S. President Gerald Ford at the White House in 1976.
Enrile as a senator, photograph released by the Philippine Congress, c. 1988
Enrile meets former Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia
Secretary Marianito Roque (left) and Enrile (right)
Enrile (left) during President Benigno Aquino III's first SONA in 2010
Enrile with Hajime Ishii (left) on May 4, 2011
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Bibliography
- Enrile, Juan Ponce. Juan Ponce Enrile: A Memoir (2012). Manila: ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.. ISBN 9789718161173.
Notes
- ↑ The Philippines was an unincorporated territory of the United States known as the Philippine Islands at the time of Ponce Enrile's birth.
References
- ↑ Resume of Senator Enrile. Senate of the Philippines: 18th CongressSenate of the Philippines. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ↑ News, ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA Integrated. Juan Ponce Enrile dies at 101 (in en). GMA News Online (2025-11-13). Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ↑ easybourse.com, Senators Name Juan Ponce Enrile As New Philippine Senate President. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
- ↑ Did Enrile smell something fishy in Rodriguez draft order?. Rappler (September 16, 2022).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Enrile at 100: Quotes from Philippines' oldest Cabinet official. ABS-CBN (February 14, 2024).
- ↑ The sad, dramatic, if redeeming, life of Juan Ponce Enrile. VERA Files. October 5, 2012. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/sad-dramatic-redeeming-life-juan-ponce-enrile-165821298.html. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ↑ Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, captain of the Senate. July 15, 2012. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/229193/sen-juan-ponce-enrile-captain-of-the-senate. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
- ↑ Zamora, Fe (June 30, 2012). The redemption of 'Manong' Johnny. https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/55247/the-redemption-of-manong-johnny/#ixzz6wJ8WYJwU.
- ↑ (in en) Enrile says 'no regrets, no mistakes,' as he turns 100. 2024-02-14. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1903972/enrile-says-no-regrets-no-mistakes-as-he-turns-100. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ↑ Ombay, Giselle (11 November 2025). "Juan Ponce Enrile 'isn't doing too good' in ICU, daughter says" (in en). GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/965697/enrile-in-icu-has-slim-chance-of-surviving-jinggoy/story. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ↑ Ager, Maila (11 November 2025). "Estrada source: Enrile in ICU with pneumonia; ‘slim chances of surviving’" (in en). Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2138159/estradas-source-says-enrile-at-icu-due-to-pneumonia-has-slim-chances-of-surviving. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ↑ De Leon, Richard (12 November 2025). "'Begging to go back home!' Enrile ayaw raw mamatay sa ospital, sabi ni Honasan" (in fil). Balita (Manila Bulletin). https://balita.mb.com.ph/2025/11/12/begging-to-go-back-home-enrile-ayaw-raw-mamatay-sa-ospital-sabi-ni-honasan/. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ↑ Bajo, Anna Felicia. Juan Ponce Enrile, Marcos' chief legal counsel and former Senate President, dies at 101 (in en-PH). GMA News Online (November 13, 2025). Retrieved November 13, 2025.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Sarao, Zacarian (November 13, 2025). "Juan Ponce Enrile dies at 101" (in en-PH). Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2138203/juan-ponce-enrile-dies-at-101. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
Other websites
Media related to Juan Ponce Enrile at Wikimedia Commons- Juan Ponce Enrile – Senate of the Philippines
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jesus Melchor Quitain |
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel 2022 – 2025 | |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Rufino Hechanova |
Secretary of Finance Acting 1966 – 1968 |
Succeeded by Eduardo Romualdez |
| Preceded by Claudio Teehankee |
Secretary of Justice 1968 – 1970 |
Succeeded by Felix Makasiar |
| Preceded by Ernesto Mata |
Secretary of National Defense 1970 – 1971 |
Succeeded by Ferdinand E. Marcos Acting |
| Preceded by Ferdinand Marcos Acting |
Secretary/Minister of National Defense 1972 – 1986 |
Succeeded by Rafael M. Ileto |
| Assembly seats | ||
| Recreated Title last held by Gerardo Roxas
|
Senate Minority Leader 1987 – 1992 |
Succeeded by Wigberto Tañada |
| Preceded by Manny Villar |
President of the Senate of the Philippines 2008 – 2013 |
Succeeded by Jinggoy Estrada Acting |
| Preceded by Alan Peter Cayetano |
Senate Minority Leader 2013 – 2014 |
Succeeded by Tito Sotto Acting |
| Preceded by Tito Sotto Acting |
Senate Minority Leader 2015 – 2016 |
Succeeded by Ralph Recto |
| Assembly seats | ||
| Preceded by Domingo Tuazon |
Congressman, 1st District of Cagayan 1992 – 1995 |
Succeeded by Patricio Antonio |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Menardo Guevarra as Solicitor-General |
Order of Precedence of the Philippines as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel |
Succeeded by Romando Artes Acting as Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority |