Martial law architect Enrile gets Malacañang birthday bash, P100k cash gift

MANILA, Philippines — Juan Ponce Enrile, former martial law architect under dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., marked his 100th birthday on Wednesday with a lavish Malacañang celebration attended by three current and former presidents — the kind of revelry that could only be enjoyed in a country where power shields its own. 

In his speech celebrating his centennial year, the chief presidential legal counsel turned emotional at the thought of serving two Marcoses in his lifetime and thanked the elder Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos "for what they did to make me what I am today,” 

“(The) happiest moment of my life was when I serve (sic) the first presidency of a Marcos President and the second time — now that I’m serving the son of that president, our President Bongbong Marcos,” Enrile said, according to a state news release.

Attendees of Enrile’s birthday celebration, hosted by President Marcos Jr. himself, included former Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez, and other current and former officials, as well as Enrile’s family and friends.

The former defense secretary of Marcos Sr. — who later led the military mutiny that helped unseat him, and ultimately drive his family, including Marcos Jr., out of the country — is a “ pantheon of Philippine history,” the incumbent president said during Enrile’s birthday lunch.

Marcos only had praises for Enrile, saying that he received valuable advice from the seasoned politician that helped him decide to run as vice president in 2016 — a role Enrile continues to fulfill today as chief presidential legal counsel.

During his birthday celebration at Malacañang, Enrile, who earns around P189,00 to P211,900 (Salary Grade 30) as chief state counsel, was also handed a centenarian gift of P100,000 by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

This is part of the provisions of the Centenarians Act of 2016 that entitles Filipinos who reach 100 years old with a P100,000 cash incentive.

Prior to his current post, which he was appointed to at 98 years old in 2022, Enrile had served four terms in the Senate and became Senate president during the 15th Congress from 2008 to 2013.