Katrina Ponce Enrile, daughter of the late former Senate President and Special Adviser to the President Juan Ponce Enrile, has issued a new statement to clarify her comments regarding Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano's remarks about his relationship with her father.
Background of the Issue
Earlier, Cayetano stated that he called Enrile “uncle,” which he said reflected their close ties. In a Facebook post on May 14, days after Cayetano assumed the Senate leadership and following Enrile's passing in November 2025, Katrina acknowledged the long-standing acquaintance between the two families but clarified that genuine relationships are not measured solely by words spoken publicly after a person has passed.
Emphasis on Sincerity
“Genuine relationships are not measured solely by words spoken publicly after a person has passed,” part of her statement read, highlighting the importance of presence and sincerity during moments of mourning. She pointed out that during the necrological services at the Senate and the days of mourning, their family noticed who was present and who was not.
Disappointment and Call for Respect
According to Katrina, the recent statements about closeness to Enrile caused sadness and disappointment in their family. She stressed that honesty and respect should always accompany any mention of her father's memory.
Broader Commentary on Political Labels
In a lengthy post on May 25, Katrina also addressed the widespread practice of attaching political labels to individuals on social media. She expressed fatigue over the culture where people are quickly categorized into political camps such as “DDS,” “anti-DDS,” “pro-Marcos,” or “anti-Marcos,” instead of being recognized as individuals with their own experiences and perspectives.
Personal Experience, Not Political Attack
She emphasized that her statements come from personal experience as a daughter and are not intended to attack or side with any political group. “Sometimes, she speaks because she comes from a place of truth,” she said, stressing that not every statement should immediately be given a political color.
Katrina clarified that she was not the first to bring up the issue, so she chose to share her sentiments as part of her personal memory of her father.
