Juan Ponce Enrile
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1987–1992, 1995–2001, 2004–incumbent |
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1966–1968 |
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1968–1970 |
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1970–1986 |
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1992–1995 |
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1978–1984 |
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| Political Party: | Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (2001- ) Independent (1995-2001) Nacionalista (1965-1972);(1987-1995) KBL (1978-1986) |
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| Born: | February 14, 1924 (age 83) Gonzaga, Cagayan |
| Spouse: | Cristina Castañer |
Juan Ponce Enrile (born February 14, 1924) is a political figure in the Philippines. Originally a protege of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos he later became a leader in the 1986 People Power Movement that drove President Ferdinand Marcos from power. He is a current senator of the Philippines.
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[edit] Early life and career
Enrile was born in Gonzaga, Cagayan to the daughter of a poor fisherman. He was born out of wedlock--his father was the already married powerful regional politician and renowned lawyer Alfonso Enrile. In 1949, he graduated cum laude with a degree of Associate in Arts at the Ateneo de Manila University. He took a degree of Bachelor of Laws and graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines. In the 1953 board examinations, he ended up at the 11th highest score with a 91.72% rating and a perfect score in Commercial Law. He became a scholar at the Harvard Law School where he earned the degree Master of Laws with specialized training in International Tax.
He taught law at the Far Eastern University and practiced as a partner in his father’s law firm before taking responsibility for then-senator Marcos’s personal legal affairs in 1964. After Marcos was elected president in 1965, Enrile became one of his inner circle.
[edit] Marcos' inner circle
From 1966 to 1968, he was the undersecretary and Acting Secretary of the Department of Finance. He was concurrently became the acting Insurance Commissioner and Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs. From 1968 to 1970, he became the Secretary of the Department of Justice. In 1970, he was appointed as Secretary of the Department of National Defense.
In 1972, one of Marcos' reason for the declaration of martial law was terrorism. He cited the bombing of Enrile's car. In 1973, Enrile's title became Defense Minister. As Defense Minister, he presided the Executive Committee of the National Security Council, making him one of the prime architects of Marcos' martial rule.
As a requirement for his position as part of the cabinet under the parliamentary system, he ran and won as Assemblyman and represented Cagayan Valley for the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978.
[edit] People Power 'hero'
After opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. was assassinated in 1983, Enrile became fearful for his safety. As the Marcos dictatorship became increasingly unpopular, Enrile began aligning himself with dissident elements in the army, particularly the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM). Officers from this group, with Enrile’s support, moved to launch a coup d’état against Marcos in February 1986. Marcos was alerted to the plot, and the conspirators took refuge in two military camps. From there, Enrile and Fidel Ramos, the head of the Philippine Constabulary (now the Philippine National Police), rallied opponents against Marcos in a citizen revolt that became known as the People Power Movement. At the same time, Enrile revealed details of the public deception he had perpetuated while serving in Marcos’s government. This included being aware of fraudulent votes in the 1986 presidential election and faking an assassination attempt on his own life in 1972, which helped provide Marcos with the justification for declaring martial law. Enrile emerged as one of the perceived 'heroes' of the People Power Movement, although the reasons for his involvement with the movement were highly disputed. In the post-martial law era, rumors had spread that Ramos and Enrile were among the two think tanks in the assassination of "Ninoy" Aquino. It is alleged that in order not to be accused with the Marcoses, the two plot a coup against their president.
[edit] Conflicts with Aquino
He served as minister of national defense under Corazon Aquino, who replaced Marcos as president, but Enrile increasingly differed with Aquino. She forced Enrile to resign as defense minister in November 1986. In May 1987 he won election as one of two opposition members of the country’s 24-member Senate (the other one is Joseph Estrada). In August 1987, a coup against Aquino escalated and it brought to the destruction of the Armed Forces headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. He was detained in a house-type quarters in Camp Aguinaldo over suspicion of planning the coup with Gregorio Honasan. He was released days after due to lack of evidence.
[edit] Election bid
In 1992, Enrile predicted that he may end up losing the senatorial election or winning but only three years in office. Under the transitory provisions of the 1987 constitution, the first 12 candidates who receive the highest votes wins a 6 year term, the next 12 would only serve 3 years. He ran instead as congressman. He won the election and represented the 1st District of Cagayan. In 1995, he ran as independent for the second time as senator under the Lakas-Laban coalition. He won and held the position until 2001. While active in his position as senator, he ran as independent in the 1998 elections for the position of President. He lost however to Vice President Joseph Estrada.
[edit] EDSA II
In January 13, 2001 he was one who voted against the opening of the second bank envelope. That vote led to the second EDSA People Power Revolution that ousted President Joseph Estrada. In May 2001 he was invited by the military for the investigation of the unsuccessful siege of the Malacañang Palace by pro-Estrada forces. He was released a day after. He ran for reelection as part of the Puwersa ng Masa coalition. Due to the issues that haunt him during the failed siege, he lost the election.
[edit] 2004 elections
In 2004 elections, he made a comeback bid for the Senate under the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP). He was actively opposing the imposition of the Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA) on the consumer's electric bills. Due to his exposé on the PPA and the Supreme Court decision for a refund on electric bills, he received a positive response from the public and won the election. He became one of the senators who won the position in three non-consecutive terms.
[edit] Independent senator
He is affiliated with the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). Technically he belongs to an opposition party, but at the Senate, he stands as independent and is part of the administration bloc. The minority bloc includes all of his party mates.
[edit] Personal life
Johnny, as what he was often called, is married to Cristina Castañer, a Spanish national. They have two children: Juan, Jr. and Katrina. Juan, Jr. is currently a congressman representing the 1st District of Cagayan. Katrina is the current CEO of Jaka Group, Enrile's company. The Jaka group owns the Philippine Match Company, the Philippines leading match maker.
[edit] One of the architects of martial law
Political writer Alexander Remollino cites Juan Ponce Enrile as one of the architects of martial law. In a TV interview in 1991, Enrile claimed, "I am the author of martial law." He had boasted in a number of media interviews of having himself issued a number of arrests, search and seize orders during the Marcos regime against oppositionists, including political figures, members of the media, student and labor activists, and members of left-wing groups. Whether these orders were also for torture and execution is being argued by both his friends and enemies alike.
Political writer and analyst Alfred McCoy in his speech, "Dark Legacy: Human Rights Under the Marcos Regime" of 20 September 1999, said that because of the peculiar state of Philippine culture and politics, the country has been "turning cronies into statesmen, torturers into legislators, and killers into generals." [1]
[edit] External links
- Senate of the Philippines
- Juan Ponce Enrile's Assets and Liabilities
- Juan Ponce Enrile's Official Philippine Senate biography
| Preceded by Claudio Teehankee |
Philippine Secretary of Justice December 17, 1968 – February 7, 1970 |
Succeeded by Felix Makasiar |
| Preceded by Ernesto Mata |
Philippine Secretary of National Defense February 9, 1970 – August 27, 1971 |
Succeeded by Ferdinand E. Marcos |
| Preceded by Ferdinand E. Marcos |
Philippine Secretary of National Defense January 4, 1972 – November 23, 1986 |
Succeeded by Rafael M. Ileto |
| Senators of the 13th Congress of the Philippines |
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Angara | Arroyo | Biazon | Cayetano | Drilon | L. Estrada | J. Estrada | Enrile | Flavier | Gordon | Lacson | Lapid |
