President Marcos paid tribute to the late Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, calling him one of the country’s “most enduring and respected public servants.”

In a Facebook post, the President said Enrile’s death “marks the close of a chapter in our nation’s history,” recognizing his more than five decades of service in government and law.

“We say goodbye to one of the most enduring and respected public servants our country has ever known,” Marcos said Thursday, Nov. 13.

“For over 50 years, Juan Ponce Enrile dedicated his life to serving the Filipino people, helping guide the country through some of its most challenging and defining moments,” he added.

Marcos described the former Senate president as “brilliant, sharp, and firm in his belief that law and governance must always serve the Filipino people,” noting that the former senator’s intellect and conviction remained strong even in his later years.

“His passing marks the close of a chapter in our nation’s history. But the mark he leaves behind in law, in governance, and in the hearts of those he served will never be forgotten,” he added.

In closing, the President offered a personal message of gratitude.

“Maraming salamat, Tito Johnny. Paalam at salamat sa isang buhay na buong puso mong inalay para sa bayan (Thank you, Tito Johnny. Farewell, and thank you for a life wholeheartedly devoted to the nation),” he said.

Enrile, who served under multiple administrations and was a central figure in several of the country’s most defining political moments, passed away on Nov. 13. He was 101.