The Senate of the Philippines honored the late former Senate President and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE), on Wednesday, with several senators and other officials looking back on the colorful life of the legendary politician.

Senate President Tito Sotto said Manong Johnny leaves behind a legacy that not only reverberates and echoes through these walls but also through our nation.

“On behalf of the Philippine Senate, and on behalf of my own family, I convey our sincerest and deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of the Juan Ponce Enrile of Philippine history, politics, and law. He once walked on this very floor as a senator, proposed legislation, investigated persons, heard testimonies, debated crucial points, and played crucial roles,” Sotto said in his eulogy.

“He likewise climbed the center chair as President of this chamber, presided over an impeachment trial, clashed with words with fellow senators, and shook hands with confirmed appointments of the President’s cabinet. He was one of us, among many other offices that he held with distinction,” he added.

Enrile's public service record covers eight presidencies, from Ferdinand Edralin Marcos in 1968 to Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos in 2025.

For her part, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo bid a final farewell to Enrile, who, according to her, will go down in history as one of the awe-inspiring political figures of the time—truly a legend in his own lifetime. She said the sheer force of his intelligence, political skill, and powerful presence made him one of the most enduring public servants of the era.

“(He) was sometimes intimidating but always respected by friends and foes alike for his unsurpassed brilliance,” Arroyo said.

The Senate earlier adopted Senate Resolution No. 176, taking into consideration Senate Resolution No. 177, expressing the deepest sympathies and profound condolences of the Philippine Senate on the death of Enrile.

The art of campaigning

Meanwhile, the Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the veteran legislator mentored him, especially in the art of campaigning when he was still running as senator.

“When you became our Senate President in the 14th Congress, and I observed how you cared for the Senate employees, that’s when I realized you were actually campaigning for your former legislative staff, as you did not want them to lose their jobs. Juan Valentin Furagganan Ponce Enrile, JPE, as we have long called him: former Assemblyman, Minister of Defense, Secretary of Justice, Secretary of Finance, Congressman, Senator, Senate President, Presidential Legal Counsel. A man who donned more titles than anyone, and one who remained a public servant until his very last breath,” he said.

Lacson said some would say that JPE walked through history, saying that they are wrong.

“Manong Johnny did not simply pass through history. He walked alongside it, making sure that he stood at its center, witnessing every halt and turn, leaving a mark in every stride.

But even in his many stories, no one can trivialize or exaggerate who JPE was—no historian, no colleague, no friend,” according to Lacson.

Senator Erwin Tulfo, meanwhile, said the passing of Enrile marks the end of an era—one shaped by his steady hand, his remarkable memory, and his unparalleled understanding of the laws and institutions that anchor the country to this day.

“I speak today not only in my public capacity, but also as someone who deeply admired him. His counsel, though often concise, carried the weight of decades of experience. I admired Juan Ponce Enrile for his intellect, his tenacity, and the unwavering discipline that characterized his public life. His legacy is complex, vast, and undeniably significant. History will remember him as a man whose influence shaped institutions and whose decisions echoed across generations,” he said.

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito described former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile as a natural mentor who generously shared wisdom with young people and new legislators.

Ejercito remembered his experience with Enrile, who happened to be his seatmate in his early years as a young senator.

“But it was strange. Instead of feeling intimidated, instead of feeling uncomfortable as a seatmate, I felt comfortable. Manong Johnny always talks to me, and from time to time, he imparts words of wisdom and knowledge to a new senator like me,” Ejercito said.

“It’s funny because sometimes when we have something to discuss, he's the one who comes to my office. I said, 'I'll go, just wait for me there,' but he visited me in my office several times. Enrile was a natural mentor, generously sharing his wisdom with young people, including new legislators like me,” he added.

Ejercito considered his experience with Enrile a privilege and an honor, given the opportunity to be with someone—a legend in Philippine politics and government service—who served the country until his last breath.

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada also shared heartfelt reflections on Enrile, offering a rare glimpse into the man behind the towering political figure.

Estrada spoke about Enrile’s deep friendship with his family—particularly with his father, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada—and the unwavering loyalty they showed each other through the years.

Estrada highlighted the former senator’s defining qualities—his character, work ethic, and brilliance. He noted that behind Enrile’s iconic campaign slogan, “Gusto ko, happy ka,” was a simple man who enjoyed humble meals of fish and vegetables, which Estrada jokingly described as the secret to his remarkable longevity.

“To most people, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will be remembered as a central political figure who served under eight presidents across more than six decades, a steady presence in some of the nation’s most critical moments and political upheavals. But to me, Manong Johnny is and will always be nothing less than family. Words are not enough to describe the warmth and fatherly affection he showed me,” Estrada said.

Katrina Ponce Enrile thanked the Chamber for honoring her late father, calling the Senate a place of loneliness, as stated by her father when he was still alive.

“My father knew that loneliness. A century of impossible choices, of watching allies become adversaries, with shifting political seasons. What mattered was your love for the Philippines. That was the only credential he required. His door is closed, but what he represents cannot be closed,” she said.