President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Friday that the late Juan Ponce Enrile, who served as chief presidential legal counsel before his death, was a man wholly devoted to public service, a statesman who exemplified “the purest and best sense of being a Filipino.”

“So as we grieve the loss of JPE, let us also be grateful. At some time in the history of the Philippines, there was a man who devoted his entire being to the service of the Filipino… That the rest of us could be able to do even a little bit of what he had done,” Marcos said in a eulogy for his uncle, friend, and mentor.

“We must all follow that example that he gave to us. We must always remember the benefits, the contributions that he made to the Filipinos, to the Philippines,” he added.

The President said Enrile was dedicated to his work, his country, his family, praising him for his wisdom and excellence in serving the Filipino people.

In addition, the Chief Executive thanked Enrile for everything he has done for the Marcos family and the Philippines as a whole, noting that he had never stopped working despite his advanced age.

Marcos also said he admired Enrile’s conviction. The veteran lawmaker, he said, never undermined national interests despite challenges.

“The one line that I noticed that he never crossed was this: When he believed in his heart of hearts that what you were trying to do was against the national interest, he would remove himself. And he’d say, I do not agree with this,” he said.

Enrile passed away at the age of 101 on Thursday, November 13.