Arturo "Boy" Tiongson Enrile (June 20, 1940 – January 14, 1998) was the
Secretary
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...
of the
Department of Transportation and Communications
The Department of Transportation (DOTr; fil, Kagawaran ng Transportasyon) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the maintenance and expansion of viable, efficient, and dependable transportation systems as eff ...
from 1997 to 1998. He also served as the
24th Chief of Staff of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The P ...
from 1994 to 1996.
Early life
Enrile was born on June 20, 1940, in
Lucena City
Lucena, officially the City of Lucena ( fil, Lungsod ng Lucena), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Calabarzon region of the Philippines. It is the capital city of the province of Quezon where it is geographically situated but, in t ...
to Felix Enrile and Jovita Tiongson. He was the cousin of the late former President
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; ; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipina politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the most prominent figure of the 1986 People P ...
and former Senator
Juan Ponce Enrile
Juan Valentin Furagganan Ponce Enrile Sr., (born Juanito Furagganan; February 14, 1924), also referred to by his initials JPE, or Manong Johnny, is a Filipino politician and lawyer known for his role in the administration of Philippine dicta ...
.
Personal life
He was married to Mara Enrile. And they have a daughter named Tanya.
Career
Military
Enrile is a graduate of
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...
Class of 1962. In 1975, he commanded the newly activated 41st Infantry Battalion under the auspices of
1st Infantry Division of
Philippine Army
The Philippine Army (PA) ( Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...
.
He was also the first commander of the 1st Army Training Group (1ATG) which was created in 1976 also under the 1st Infantry Division.
He was then appointed as superintendent of the
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...
on August 6, 1989. Enrile led the negotiations with the rebel leaders during the
1989 Philippine coup attempt
File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress Street Viaduct, Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxo ...
.
Enrile was appointed
Commanding General of the Philippine Army
The Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA) is the overall commander and senior general of the Philippine Army, the ground warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is normally held by a three-star rank of Lieutenant Gener ...
in 1991. He served as Vice Chief of Staff of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The P ...
before being appointed by then
Fidel Ramos
Fidel Valdez Ramos (, ; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR and Eddie Ramos, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military ...
as
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP) is the highest-ranking military officer (except for the President of the Philippines, who holds the position of Commander-in-Chief equivalent to a five-star general) and the head ...
on April 12, 1994.
He served as AFP Chief until November 30, 1996, after President Ramos extended his appointment as AFP Chief of Staff.
Awards in military service
*
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
The Philippine Presidential Unit citation BadgeThe AFP Adjutant General, ''Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 65. is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States mil ...
*
Distinguished Service Star
The Distinguished Service Star is the third highest military award of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is awarded for eminently meritorious and valuable service rendered while holding a position of great responsibility.
Description of the ...
*
Distinguished Conduct Star
The Distinguished Conduct StarThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 13-14. is the second highest military award of the Philippines, preceded in precedence only by the Medal of Valor. The award was esta ...
*
![Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Anti-dissidence_Campaign_Medal.png)
Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal
*
![Luzon Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Luzon_Anti-dissidence_Campaign_Medal.png)
Luzon Anti Dissidence Campaign Medal
*
![Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Mindanao_Anti-dissidence_Campaign_Medal.png)
Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal
*
![AFP Long Service Medal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/AFP_Long_Service_Medal.gif)
Long Service Medal
*
![Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Disaster_Relief_and_Rehabilitation_Operations_Ribbon.gif)
Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation Operation Ribbon
*
Silver Wing Medal
This Silver Wing Medal is a military decoration awarded by Armed Forces of the Philippines to Philippine and allied military personnel. The Silver Wing Medal is awarded in only one class, and may be awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces ...
*
Wounded Personnel Medal
The Wounded Personnel Medal is awarded to members of and civilians employed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are injured or killed in combat with the enemy.
Design Medal
The medal is in the form of a cross in gold.. Superimposed in ...
DOTC Secretary
On April 16, 1997, Enrile was appointed as
Secretary
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...
of the
Department of Transportation of the Philippines. He served as DOTC secretary until his untimely demise on January 14, 1998.
Death
Enrile died in January 1998 after his major organs (liver heart, kidney, lungs) were attacked by bacteria. Doctors spent a lot of time explaining to media representatives and live TV cameras that the former AFP chief of staff did not die from the Hong Kong Bird Flu. Enrile, 57, was rushed to the Makati Medical Center Monday after collapsing at home. Doctors said the retired general was in a state of shock when he reached the hospital. An official medical bulletin said Enrile died from complications arising from virulent viral infection, or "multiple organ failure due to septic shock and streptococcal pneumonic bacteraemia." President Ramos expressed his deep condolences for the "untimely demise of a devoted public servant and leader" and attended the wake.
He was interred at the
Libingan ng mga Bayani
Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB, , ) is a national cemetery within Fort Andres Bonifacio (formerly Fort William McKinley) in Metro Manila, Philippines.
First established in May 1947 as a fitting resting place for Philippine military personnel fro ...
in
Taguig
Taguig (), officially the City of Taguig ( fil, Lungsod ng Taguig), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 886,722 people. Located in the northwestern shores of ...
.
References
Arturo Enrile's obituary
{{DEFAULTSORT:Enrile, Arturo
1940 births
1998 deaths
People from Manila
People from Lucena, Philippines
Philippine Military Academy alumni
Filipino generals
Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs (Philippines)
Secretaries of Transportation of the Philippines
Burials at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
Ramos administration cabinet members