Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Senate President and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the most enduring and controversial figures in Philippine political history, has died at the age of 101, his daughter Katrina Ponce Enrile confirmed Thursday.
“My father peacefully returned to his Creator on November 13, 2025, at 4:21 p.m., surrounded by our family in the comfort of our home,” Katrina said in a statement.
“It was his heartfelt wish to take his final rest at home, with his family by his side. We were blessed to honor that wish.”
Enrile, who was serving as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., had been confined in the intensive care unit with pneumonia earlier this week. On Nov. 11, Senator Jinggoy Estrada revealed in a Senate session that Enrile was critically ill and had “slim chances of surviving.”
A founding partner of PECABAR Law (Ponce Enrile, Reyes & Manalastas), Enrile was a key player in Philippine politics for over seven decades. He served as Justice Secretary and Defense Minister under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., overseeing major policies during the martial law era.
In a defining moment of his career, Enrile broke away from Marcos in February 1986 and joined then–Armed Forces Vice Chief of Staff Fidel Ramos in a military revolt that sparked the EDSA People Power Revolution, leading to the end of the dictatorship.
Enrile later became a dominant figure in Congress, serving multiple terms in both the House and the Senate. As Senate President from 2008 to 2013, he presided over the impeachment trial of then–Chief Justice Renato Corona, one of the most historic proceedings in modern Philippine politics.
“He dedicated much of his life to the service of the Filipino people,” Katrina said. “At this time, we ask for the public’s understanding as our family takes a brief moment to grieve privately and honor his memory in peace.”
The family said details for public viewing and interment will be announced once arrangements have been finalized.
