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 ...

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 ...

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 and former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

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

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

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 ...

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 * Distinguished Conduct Star Ribbon Bar

Distinguished Conduct Star *

Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal * Luzon Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal

Luzon Anti Dissidence Campaign Medal *

Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal * AFP Long Service Medal

Long Service Medal * Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon

Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation Operation Ribbon * PHL Silver Wing Medal ribbon bar

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 The title chief ...

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

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 ...

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