Veteran Filipino politician Juan Ponce Enrile, whose six-decade career spanned service as a martial law administrator to his role in the revolt that toppled the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., has died. He was 101.
Enrile, who most recently served as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., passed away at 4:21 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2025. His passing was confirmed by his daughter Katrina Ponce Enrile in a social media post.
A formidable and often polarizing figure in Philippine politics, Enrile was renowned for his longevity—earning him the tongue-in-cheek nickname “immortal” from some social media users—and his ability to adapt to shifting political landscapes.
Enrile’s career included multiple terms in both the Senate, where he served twice as Senate President, and the House of Representatives.
He rose to prominence as a close confidant and Defense Minister to the elder Marcos and was instrumental in the declaration of Martial Law in 1972. However, he famously broke with the regime in 1986, joining the military-backed “People Power” revolution that led to the Marcos family’s exile. Decades later, Enrile endorsed the successful 2022 presidential bid of Marcos Jr., who subsequently appointed him to his cabinet.
His lengthy tenure in public service was also marked by legal troubles, most notably charges of plunder and graft related to the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam. Enrile was arrested in 2014 but was later granted bail due to his advanced age. He was acquitted of plunder in 2024 and was acquitted of graft just weeks before his death, concluding a 10-year trial.
Enrile was born on February 14, 1924.
