Marcos: JPE one of PH’s most enduring, respected public servants

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

“We say goodbye to one of the most enduring and respected public servants our country has ever known. 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,” Marcos said. (Photo: PNA)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday paid tribute to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, calling him “one of the most enduring and respected public servants” in Philippine history.

In a statement shared on social media, Marcos said Enrile’s decades-long service to the nation — which spanned law, governance, and public policy — left an indelible mark on the country’s political and legal landscape.

“We say goodbye to one of the most enduring and respected public servants our country has ever known. 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,” Marcos said.

The President issued the statement moments after Enrile’s passing was made public by his daughter, Katrina Ponce Enrile.

Marcos also described Enrile as a brilliant legal mind who remained “sharp and steadfast” in his belief that law and governance must always serve the Filipino people.

“Even in his final years, he remained brilliant, sharp, and firm in his belief that law and governance must always serve the Filipino people,” he said.

Marcos said Enrile’s death marked the end of an era but emphasized that his influence would continue to shape the nation’s institutions and public service.

“His passing marks the close of a chapter in our nation’s history. But the mark he leaves behind in law, in governance, and in the hearts of those he served will never be forgotten,” he said.

The President ended his message with a personal note, thanking the late statesman for his lifelong dedication to the country.

“Maraming salamat, Tito Johnny. Paalam at salamat sa isang buhay na buong puso mong inalay para sa bayan (Thank you very much, Tito Johnny. Farewell, and thank you for a life wholeheartedly dedicated to the nation),” he said.

Enrile, who passed away at 101, served as Senate President, Defense Minister, and more recently as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel under the Marcos administration.

His storied career spanned both the Marcos Sr. and post-EDSA People Power governments, making him one of the country’s most influential political figures for over half a century.