Juan Ponce Enrile

Juan Valentin Furagganan Ponce Enrile Sr., CLH (born Juan Valentin Furagganan;^[3] February 14, 1924), is a Filipino politician. He served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Minister. He was Senate President from November 2008 until his resignation on June 5, 2013.^[4]

The Honourable Juan Ponce Enrile
Enrile in October 2018
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2022
President	Bongbong Marcos
Preceded by	Jesus Melchor Quitain
21st President of the Senate of the Philippines
In office November 17, 2008 – June 5, 2013
Preceded by	Manny Villar
Succeeded by	Jinggoy Estrada (Acting)
Senate Minority Leader
In office August 24, 2015 – June 30, 2016
Preceded by	Tito Sotto (Acting)
Succeeded by	Ralph Recto
In office July 22, 2013 – July 28, 2014
Preceded by	Alan Peter Cayetano
Succeeded by	Tito Sotto (Acting)
In office July 27, 1987 – January 18, 1992
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
In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2001
In office August 15, 1987 – June 30, 1992
Member of the House of Representatives from Cagayan's 1st district
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995
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
Member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa from Region II
In office June 12, 1978 – June 5, 1984
15th Minister of National Defense
In office January 4, 1972 – November 23, 1986
President	Ferdinand Marcos Corazon Aquino
Preceded by	Ferdinand Marcos
Succeeded by	Rafael Ileto
In office February 9, 1970 – August 27, 1971
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Ernesto Ma
Succeeded by	Ferdinand Marcos
36th Secretary of Justice
In office December 17, 1968 – February 7, 1970
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Claudio Teehankee Sr.
Succeeded by	Felix Makasiar
Undersecretary for Finance
In office January 1, 1966 – December 17, 1968
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs
In office 1966–1968
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Jacinto T. Gavino
Succeeded by	Rolando G. Geotina
Personal details
Born	Juan Valentin Furagganan[1] (1924-02-14) February 14, 1924 (age 101)[2] Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines[a]
Political party	PMP (2004–present)
Other political affiliations	LDP (2001–2004) Independent (1995–2001) KBL (1978–1987) Nacionalista (1965–1978; 1987–1995)
Spouse(s)	Cristina Castañer ​ (m. 1957)​
Children	2, including Jack
Relatives	Armida Siguion-Reyna (half-sister)
Residence	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)

He planned a coup against President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, however he quickly ended the plans when it was discovered by the government.

In 2022, he officially returned to government as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel in the administration of President Bongbong Marcos.^[5] At the age of 100, he is currently the oldest serving member of the Marcos administration or of the country's cabinet.^[6]

Early life and education

Enrile was born on February 14, 1924, in Gonzaga, Cagayan, to Petra Furagganan, the stepdaughter of a poor fisherman. He was born out of wedlock, as his father, the Spanish mestizo lawyer and influential provincial politician Alfonso Ponce Enrile, was already married. At the time of his birth, Alfonso served as a representative from the 1st district of Cagayan. He was baptized into the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan) as Juanito Furagganan.^[3] He converted to Roman Catholicism at age 20.^[7] As a young man, he was reunited with his father in the City of Manila and took his secondary education at Saint James Academy in Malabon, Rizal. His father took legal steps in changing his name to Juan Ponce Enrile, the name that he would use for his pre-law enrollment.^[8]

Bibliography

• Enrile, Juan Ponce (2012). Navarro, Nelson A. (ed.). Juan Ponce Enrile: A Memoir. Manila: ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. ISBN 9789718161173.

Notes

1. The Philippines was an unincorporated territory of the United States known as the Philippine Islands at the time of Ponce Enrile's birth.