LOOK: DND honors the late Juan Ponce Enrile

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday gave arrival honors to the late Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“The DND rendered Arrival Honors for the late former Defense Minister/Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile,” the Department said in a statement.

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. led the ceremony as defense senior officials, employees, and Enrile’s family gathered at the DND grounds to honor his legacy and decades of dedicated service to the nation.

According to the DND, a necrological service will be held on Wednesday to further pay tribute to the life, leadership, and contributions of Enrile.

Enrile’s remains are scheduled to be interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on November 22, his daughter Katrina announced on Wednesday.

In an Instagram post, Katrina shared the following details for his father’s interment on the said date:

• 8:15 a.m. - funeral mass at Santuario de San Antonio Church
• 10:00 a.m. - arrival honors at Libingan ng Mga Bayani
• 11:00 a.m. - interment 

“We invite you to join us as we lay Juan Ponce Enrile to rest on November 22 at Libingan ng mga Bayani…Funeral Mass: 8:15 a.m. Burial to follow. Come as you are, with whatever is in your heart,” the family said.

“For a century, he walked among us. Now we walk him home…Whatever memories you carry of Juan Ponce Enrile: as statesman, as controversial figure, as mentor, as friend, we welcome you to stand with us in prayer as we release him to God’s mercy,” it added.

Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala told GMA News Online that Enrile will receive military honors and a 21-gun salute.

“Yes, sa (the interment will be at the) Libingan ng mga Bayani. Preparations would be for the interment ceremony with military honors and the 21-gun salute,” Dema-ala said in a message.

The Senate will also hold a necrological service for Enrile on November 19.

Enrile passed away on November 13 at the age of 101 while receiving treatment for pneumonia.

He served as the secretary of Justice from 1968 to 1970 and secretary/minister of National Defense from 1970 to 1971 and then 1972 to 1986, before returning to the legislature where he later became Senate president from 2008 to 2013. — RF, GMA Integrated News