Arturo Tiongson Enrile was the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication of the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 from April 1997 – January 1998.

Early life

Enrile was born on June 20, 1940 in Lucena City

Lucena City

Metro Lucena has an estimated population of 700,000 which is mostly concentrated in the flat south-central portion of Quezon, which includes the cities of Lucena and Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria, Lucban & Pagbilao . The people are often characterized as friendly and hardworking...

. Son of Felix Enrile and Jovita Tiongson. He was the cousin of the late former President Corazon Aquino

Corazon Aquino

Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...

 and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Juan Ponce Enrile

Juan Ponce Enrile is a Filipino politician. As a protege of President Ferdinand Marcos, he served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Secretary under the Marcos regime. He later became one of the leaders of the 1986 People Power Movement that drove Marcos from power...

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As Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Enrile, Class 1962, was FVR’s first appointment as chief of staff from April 12, 1994 to November 28, 1996.

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.

Appointed to replace Enrile as Secretary of Transportation and Communications was Undersecretary Josefina Lichauco, the most senior DOTC undersecretary. His remains were left in Libingan ng Mga Bayani

Libingan ng mga Bayani

is a national cemetery within Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. It was established as a fitting resting place for Filipino military personnel from privates to generals, as well as heroes and martyrs...

 in Taguig City

Taguig City

Taguig is a city in Metro Manila in the Philippines. From a thriving fishing community along the shores of Laguna de Bay, it is now an important residential, commercial and industrial center...

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