For decades, Juan Ponce Enrile served as a public servant, and here are some of his “lasts.”
The late chief presidential legal counsel, Juan Ponce Enrile, lived long, and here are some of the last things he did as a public servant.
Juan Ponce Enrile, the Philippines’ chief presidential legal counsel, died at the age of 101, but according to a retrieved document, he was 103. Enrile died in his home, and as he wished, he was surrounded by his family when he passed away.
For many decades, he served as a public servant. For many generations, he will be known as one of the architects of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s 20-year dictatorship. He was the late dictator’s defense minister and martial law administrator.
After living a long life, outliving regimes, here are some of the last things he did:
- Last speech as Senate President
This was on June 5, 2013, the final day of the 15th Congress. In the same speech, he announced his resignation as Senate president, as an act of “personal honor and dignity.”
- Last bill he authored
The last bill he authored was Senate Bill No. 2993 on October 15, 2015. The title is “An Act Declaring the Department of Education to Integrate the Historical and Analytical Account of the Philippine’s Rescue of Jewish Refugees in the 1930’s as Part of the Coverage of Philippine History Subject Taught to Grade 5 and 6 Students in All National and Regional Schools in the Country and for Other Purposes.”
- Last election he ran
The last time he ran, attempting to return to the Senate, was in 2019. He ran as an independent candidate in a 62-person senatorial race. He placed 22nd, far from securing a seat. It also marked the end of his electoral career.
- Last political endorsement
It was in 2022 when he endorsed President Bongbong Marcos. He supported Marcos’s presidential run and extended his endorsement to his former ally, VP Sara Duterte, daughter of then-outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte.
- Last political role he held
In 2022, he was named by President Marcos Jr. chief presidential legal counsel. This was the role he held until he died.
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