Jack Enrile: Philippine Senate President’s Son Vies for the Senate

He says he is not complaining, but Jack Enrile, Representative of the 1st District of Cagayan Province of the Philippines admits it is hard to be the son of a famous father. Enrile shared in a candid interview with the press, “In my case, you have to try three times as hard to be considered half as good as one’s father. But this comes with the territory, that’s my tough luck, no complaints.” Juan ‘Jack’ Ponce Enrile, Jr. is the son of Philippine Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

The Senior Enrile: Juan Ponce Enrile

The senior Enrile has served the Philippine government by assuming several roles. He was National Defense Secretary during the presidential terms of Ferdinand E. Marcos and Corazon C. Aquino and is currently a Senator of the Republic under the leadership of President Benigno C. Aquino III. To date, Senator Enrile holds the third highest rank in the government as Senate President, a position he was unanimously elected in during the opening of the Fifteenth Congress last July 26, 2010. After many decades of being active in public service, Senate President Enrile has announced his retirement plans.

The Young Enrile: Jack Enrile

Despite being exposed to the political environment while growing up, Jack Enrile’s political career did not come until 1998 when he ran as congressman in his father’s home province of Cagayan. Before his entry to politics, Jack managed his family’s business where he served as chief executive officer. Jack finished college as an English major at Christian Heritage College and earned his MBA from Pepperdine University. Both schools are located in California. At 55 years old and after serving four terms in Congress, Jack is running for a seat at the Senate under a political party called UNA.

With his colorful youth as the son of an illustrious public servant in the country, Jack was not free from intrigues and doubts on his character. A young man in 1981, he was implicated in the death of his sister’s boyfriend who was then a popular movie actor. However the court found no strong evidence against him so the case did not prosper. In the years that followed after the tragic incident, Jack was able to further prove himself as he took over the administration of their family’s business. At first Jack smoothly sailed with his acumen in business until such time that he could no longer resist the call of politics. Jack believes life has given him and his loved ones so much so that it is time for him now to give back by attending to the needs of his constituents.

Political analysts query why he did not affiliate with his father’s Liberal Party. To this, Jack readily answers that although the Senate President is his father, they have different policies and advocacies in politics. Jack is more inclined in supporting food sovereignty especially among people in the grassroots. According to him, while his father believes in Jack’s advocacies, the Senate head is more focused in promoting proper leadership in the Senate and the passage of constructive bills that can help uplift the lives of Filipinos.

Will he win a seat in the Senate?

Will Jack Enrile have a good chance at the polls scheduled mid this year in the Philippines? He did not say so but he expressed belief on the intelligence of Filipino voters who certainly know which deserving candidate to pick and be given power to legislate laws that will benefit the whole country. “Win or lose in this Senate election, I don’t want to die thinking I didn’t try to make a positive difference.”

Photo Credits:
– Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile
– Jack Enrile from his Facebook fanpage