Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was laid to rest today, Nov. 22, 2025, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, a cemetery reserved for veterans, soldiers, national heroes, former presidents, and national artists and scientists. His burial drew sharp criticism from groups opposing the state honors granted to him.
Enrile received full military honors, including a ceremonial flyby from a Philippine Air Force aircraft. The ceremony followed military tradition for individuals considered to have rendered significant service to the country.
But several groups, including the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, objected. The NUPL called the burial an attempt to rehabilitate Enrile’s name and his role during the martial law era. The group said the Libingan ng mga Bayani should not serve as a resting place for figures they believe contributed to the erosion of democratic freedoms and systemic abuses.
In a statement, the NUPL compared the burial to the interment of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the same cemetery. They described both cases as distortions of historical memory and acts of revisionism.
The criticism centered on the symbolic weight of the burial site, which has long been the subject of debate whenever public figures tied to martial law are honored there. While supporters viewed the ceremony as rightful recognition of Enrile’s government service, rights groups insisted it undermined efforts to preserve an accurate account of martial law’s impact.
The government has yet to issue a formal response to the objections raised by human rights advocates.
