Enrile thanks God, well-wishers as he turns 99

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile expressed gratitude to well-wishers as he turned 99 yesterday, Valentine’s Day.

“To everyone who greeted me or will greet me on my 99 years on this planet, thank you very, very much, and happy Valentine’s Day to all of you. I love you all,” the former Senate president wrote on his Facebook page.

Enrile added in his post: “99 years are, indeed, long in term of years, and I thank God for granting me those years. But in terms of eternity, those seemingly long years are but a fleeting moment. Nonetheless, thank you Lord for the years you gifted me; for the protection you blessed me and for all the blessings you have generously given to me and to my family; and the friends you, Lord, allowed me to have during my lifetime. Thank you dear God for this day!”

A former justice secretary and defense minister during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Enrile’s alleged ambush in 1972 was used as a pretext by the late strongman to declare martial law.

In 1986, he broke away from the administration and supported the People Power Revolution that resulted in Marcos’ ouster.

Now facing plunder charges in relation to the pork barrel scam, Enrile – who served numerous terms in the Senate – patched things up with the Marcos family and accepted the offer to be a legal adviser of the late strongman’s son who now sits in Malacañang.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan Third Division continued hearing the plunder cases filed against Enrile yesterday.

ABS-CBN News reported that RJ Bernal, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chief counsel for company registration and monitoring department, was presented to testify.

Enrile, who is out on bail, was not present at the hearing. In attendance was his former chief of staff and co-accused Gigi Reyes, who was recently ordered released by the Supreme Court on the condition that she attend all her hearings.