Charter change:  "I dare say that I agree with President Arroyo's view that we must now begin the great debate on Charter change. While it is true that political events tend to dictate our attention and priorities, these should not prevent us, especially our leaders, from looking beyond the resolution of our present crisis. Whether or not President Arroyo is impeached or is removed from office, constitutional reform remains an imperative."
 
Source: www.jpenrile.com

After being elected Senate president, he was quoted as saying, "People are entitled to make a judgment. The public needs to understand why we need or do not need Cha-cha."

C-5 insertions:  "For the record, this P200 million for C-5 [road extension project] was submitted as an amendment by the Senate president. Now my understanding was that this P200 million submitted by the Senate president was in addition to the P200 million included in the national expenditure program submitted by the President."
 
Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com 

Enrile admitted it was Villar who authored the insertion but he said in www.yehey.com: "As far as I am concerned, I don't think there was any intention to steal money from the government."

 
Fertilizer fund scam:  Enrile questioned Villar's decision to issue a warrant of arrest against Bolante, saying the decision was not discussed with the members. "I do not know whether Senate President Villar has the power to issue arrest because if you say he is under Senate custody, from what authority? The Senate is composed of members. Who should make the decision? Even the Senate President is not the Senate. With due respect, even the statement of the Senate President is simply a statement of a member of a Senate unless authorized by the right number in the Senate. It is not a Senate official act."
 
Source: www.gmanews.tv
 

Euro generals:  He refused to sign the subpoenas for the euro generals made by Sen. Mirriam Defensor on the grounds that he is only liable to sign "administrative matters".
 
Source: www.tribune.net.ph

Oil prices:  Enrile warned oil firms: "They have to scale down their retail price at this time. Otherwise, I will sponsor a bill to impose upon them an excess profit tax." He also noted that, "To me, the solution lies not in imposing new tax but in amending the Oil Industry Deregulation Law."
 
Source: www.manilatimes.net  

North Rail Project:  Enrile exposed in a privilege speech during the ZTE-NBN probe in 2007 that former house speaker Jose De Venecia "asked me to keep quiet on north rail project". Enrile said they will investigate and expose the real deal "regardless of who gets hurt."
 
Source:  www.standardtoday.com  

Spratlys: Enrile stated that "On the issue of the Philippine claim to Spratly islands, by entering into the exploration agreement, the Philippines has scored the benefit of being recognized as claimant by the two other claimants."
 
Source: www.senate.gov.ph 

Career timeline
 

1953 - Earned his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines, cum laude.

1954 - Took his oath as member of the Philippine Bar, ranking No. 11 among the successful bar candidates with a rating of 91.72%. He got a perfect score in Commercial Law.

1955 – Obtained his Master of Laws at the Harvard Law School, specializing in taxation and corporate reorganization.

1955-1966 – Practiced law as a partner at the Ponce Enrile, Siguion Reyna, Montecillo, Belo and Ongsiako Law Offices.

1956-1964 – Taught at the Far Eastern University College of Law.

1966 – Appointed undersecretary of finance. Shortly after, he was made chairman of the board of directors of the Philippine National Bank and then designated as concurrent acting head of the Insurance Commission. While at the Finance Department, he was appointed acting secretary of finance and concurrent chairman of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of the Philippines.

1968 – Appointed Secretary of Justice until 1970.

1970 – Appointed Secretary of National Defense until 1971 when he resigned to run for the Philippine Senate.

1972 – Re-appointed Secretary of Defense.

1986 – Participated in the historic EDSA people power revolt.

1987-1992 – Served as senator and became a lone minority in the Senate.

1992-1995 – Served in the House of Representatives.

1995-2001 – Served as senator and was designated chairman of the committees on ways and means, and government corporations and public enterprises.

2004-2010 – Served as senator for the third time, and eventually became the Senate president.