MANILA, Philippines – Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the most enduring and controversial figures in Philippine politics, has passed away at the age of 101. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Katrina Ponce Enrile, who announced that the former Senate President and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel died peacefully at his home on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 4:21 p.m.
“It is with profound love and gratitude that my father, Juan Ponce Enrile, peacefully returned to his Creator… surrounded by our family in the comfort of our home,” Katrina wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post.
Enrile’s passing marks the end of a political career that spanned over five decades and multiple presidential administrations, defining some of the nation’s most pivotal moments. His legacy is complex, anchored by his role as the former Minister of National Defense during the Marcos regime and as one of the key figures who broke away to trigger the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. He later returned to the Senate, serving multiple terms and eventually rising to the position of Senate President. Most recently, he served as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.
Katrina Ponce Enrile emphasized that it was her father’s “heartfelt wish to take his final rest at home, with his family by his side.”
“We were blessed to honor that wish and to be with him in those sacred final moments,” she stated.
The family has requested privacy during this period of immediate grief, but promised to share details for a public viewing once arrangements are finalized.
“He dedicated much of his life to the service of the Filipino people,” the statement concluded, as the nation begins to reflect on the life of this political titan.