The Philippines’ oldest lawmaker, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile Sr. resigned from his office as the highest official in the Philippine Senate. The 89-year-old Juan Ponce Enrile resigned his post on the last day of the 15th Congress on June 5, 2013.
According to the veteran Senator, he resigned because of the backlash he and his son Jack Enrile during the 2013 campaign period is the main reason of his resignation.
Here’s a part of the valedictory speech of Senator Enrile:
“I refuse to lend my hard-earned name as a convenient refuge to those who cannot face the public and defend their own honor. I refuse to allow anybody, whether in or out of the halls of this Chamber, to freely trample upon the name that my late father, Alfonso Ponce Enrile, had so kindly allowed me to carry with pride.”
The Senator who was considered as one of the main man during the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, said that he and his son suffered intense criticism over Enrile’s distribution of additional maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) funds to all but 4 senators last December.
Senator Enrile adds further that he will not allow any senator to trample his son, he was quoted as saying that:
“I do not need nor intend to use the powers, perquisites and trappings of the Senate Presidency just to cling to it or to secure this position for myself when the 16th Congress opens in July…Let us all be men and women worthy of being called ‘Honorable Senators.’ And let the chips fall where they may,” he said.
Watch the resignation speech video:
