Juan Ponce Enrile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Ponce Enrile
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Enrile in October 2018
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| Chief Presidential Legal Counsel | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2022 |
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| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Jesus Melchor Quitain |
| 21st President of the Senate of the Philippines | |
| In office November 17, 2008 – June 5, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Manny Villar |
| Succeeded by | Jinggoy Estrada (Acting) |
| Senate Minority Leader | |
| In office August 24, 2015 – June 30, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Tito Sotto (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Recto |
| In office July 22, 2013 – July 28, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Alan Peter Cayetano |
| Succeeded by | Tito Sotto (Acting) |
| In office July 27, 1987 – January 18, 1992 |
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| 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 |
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| In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2001 |
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| In office August 15, 1987 – June 30, 1992 |
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| Member of the House of Representatives from Cagayan's 1st district | |
| In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995 |
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| 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 |
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| Member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa from Region II | |
| In office June 12, 1978 – June 5, 1984 |
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| 15th Minister of National Defense | |
| In office January 4, 1972 – November 23, 1986 |
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| President | Ferdinand Marcos Corazon Aquino |
| Succeeded by | Rafael Ileto |
| In office February 9, 1970 – August 27, 1971 |
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| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Ernesto Ma |
| Succeeded by | Ferdinand Marcos |
| 36th Secretary of Justice | |
| In office December 17, 1968 – February 7, 1970 |
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| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Claudio Teehankee Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Felix Makasiar |
| Undersecretary for Finance | |
| In office January 1, 1966 – December 17, 1968 |
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| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs | |
| In office 1966–1968 |
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| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Jacinto T. Gavino |
| Succeeded by | Rolando G. Geotina |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Juan Valentin Furagganan
February 14, 1924 Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines |
| Political party | PMP (2004–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
LDP (2001–2004) Independent (1995–2001) KBL (1978–1987) Nacionalista (1965–1978; 1987–1995) |
| Spouse |
Cristina Castañer
(m. 1957) |
| Children | 2, including Jack |
| Relatives | Armida Siguion-Reyna (half-sister) |
| Residences | Gonzaga, Cagayan Dasmariñas Village, Makati, Metro Manila |
| 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) |
Juan Valentin Furagganan Ponce Enrile Sr. (born February 14, 1924), also known by his initials JPE, is a Filipino politician and lawyer. He has had one of the longest careers in Philippine politics. He served as the Senate President from 2008 to 2013.
Enrile is known for his important role in the government of President Ferdinand Marcos. He was also a key figure in the People Power Revolution of 1986, which led to Marcos leaving the country. After the revolution, Enrile served four terms in the Senate, for a total of 22 years. In 2022, at the age of 98, he returned to government as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel for President Bongbong Marcos.
During the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, Enrile was the Justice Secretary and later the Defense Minister. He was in charge of the military when Marcos declared Martial Law. This was a time when the military had great power in the country.
Later, Enrile and a group of soldiers planned to remove Marcos from power in 1986. When their plan was discovered, they asked for help. General Fidel Ramos joined him. Many Filipino citizens gathered on a major road called EDSA to protect them from Marcos's forces. This event became known as the People Power Revolution and led to Marcos leaving the presidency.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Juan Ponce Enrile was born on February 14, 1924, in Gonzaga, Cagayan. His father, Alfonso Ponce Enrile, was a well-known lawyer and politician. As a young man, Enrile moved to Manila to live with his father.
He was a very good student. He graduated with honors from Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines College of Law. He placed 11th in the national bar examinations for lawyers. He also earned a Master of Laws degree from Harvard Law School in the United States.
After school, he worked as a lawyer. In 1964, he began working for Senator Ferdinand Marcos. When Marcos became president in 1965, Enrile became one of his most trusted advisors.
Working with President Marcos
Enrile held several important jobs under President Marcos. He was in charge of the Bureau of Customs and later became the Secretary of Justice. In 1970, Marcos appointed him as the Secretary of National Defense.
The Time of Martial Law
Enrile was a key figure during Martial Law, which President Marcos declared in 1972. As Defense Minister, Enrile was in charge of the military. He helped Marcos plan and carry out the declaration of Martial Law.
Marcos said he declared Martial Law to stop terrorism. One reason he gave was an attack on Enrile's car on September 22, 1972. However, in 1986, Enrile and another general, Fidel Ramos, said that the attack was faked to give a reason for Martial Law.
During this period, many regular government bodies like Congress were shut down. This made the military, which Enrile led, very powerful.
Enrile was also put in charge of the country's logging industry. During this time, many of the Philippines' forests were cut down. He was also made president of the Philippine Coconut Authority, where he and another associate of Marcos, Danding Cojuangco, controlled the coconut industry.
Losing Influence
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By the 1980s, Enrile's power in the government began to decrease. President Marcos started to give orders directly to military leaders, bypassing Enrile.
Feeling left out, Enrile began to connect with a group of unhappy soldiers in the army. This group was called the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM). They started to plan how to protect themselves and eventually remove Marcos from power.
The People Power Revolution
In 1986, President Marcos held a special presidential election. His opponent was Corazon Aquino. The election was very controversial, and many people believed Marcos had cheated to win.
Enrile and the RAM group planned to take over the government. However, their plan was discovered on February 22, 1986. Trapped, Enrile and his supporters went to Camp Aguinaldo, a military base. He called for help from General Fidel Ramos, who joined him at another base, Camp Crame, across the street.
Enrile also called Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Archbishop of Manila, for support. The Cardinal went on the radio and asked Filipinos to go to EDSA, the main road between the two camps, to protect the soldiers. Thousands of people came, and this gathering grew into the People Power Revolution. For three days, millions of people peacefully protested. This massive support from the people forced Marcos to leave the country on February 25, 1986.
Working with President Aquino
After Marcos left, Corazon Aquino became president. Enrile was appointed as her Secretary of National Defense. However, they often disagreed on how to run the country. Enrile wanted a strong stance against communist rebels, while Aquino preferred peace talks.
Their disagreements grew, especially when a new government group began to look into Enrile's activities during the Marcos years. After being linked to a failed attempt to overthrow the government, Aquino asked Enrile to resign in November 1986.
A Long Career in Congress
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Senator and Congressman
In 1987, Enrile was elected to the Senate of the Philippines. He was one of only two opposition senators at the time.
In 1992, he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the First District of Cagayan.
He returned to the Senate in 1995 and served until 2001. During this time, he ran for president in 1998 but lost to Joseph Estrada. In 2001, he was part of a group of senators who supported President Estrada during a political crisis that led to the Second EDSA Revolution.
He was elected to the Senate again in 2004 and re-elected in 2010.
Leading the Senate
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On November 17, 2008, Enrile was elected Senate President. He was re-elected to the position in 2010. As leader of the Senate, he oversaw the passing of important laws. These included laws to help senior citizens, protect children, and conserve national heritage.
In 2012, he was the main judge in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. This was a major event in the Philippines. He later had public disagreements with other senators, including Antonio Trillanes and Miriam Defensor Santiago.
After facing some controversies, Enrile resigned as Senate President on June 5, 2013.
Life After the Senate
Enrile left the Senate in 2016. He tried to run for senator again in 2019 but was not elected.
In 2022, he returned to public service. President Bongbong Marcos appointed him as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. At over 100 years old, he is the oldest member of the Marcos administration.
Personal Life
Enrile is often called "Manong Johnny" (manong is a respectful term for an older brother in the Ilocano language). He is married to Cristina Castañer, and they have two children, Juan Jr. (Jack) and Katrina. His son Jack also became a politician.
Because of his very long life and career, Enrile has become a popular subject of jokes and internet memes in the Philippines about his age and "immortality."
Turning 100
On February 14, 2024, Enrile celebrated his 100th birthday. President Bongbong Marcos called him an "icon" in Philippine history. To honor this milestone, the Philippine Postal Corporation released a special postage stamp featuring him.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Ponce-Enrile para niños
