A central figure in the Philippines’ modern history, Enrile served as Ferdinand Marcos Snr’s defence minister during martial law, defected during the 1986 People Power revolt, and eventually reclaimed power as Senate president and later presidential legal counsel of Marcos Snr’s son, the current leader Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.

Enrile’s death on Thursday, at the age of 101, prompted sharply contrasting reactions. Human rights group SELDA, composed of Marcos-era detainees, said in a statement they had “no tears” for Enrile, describing him as “one of the chief architects and defenders of tyranny, repression, and corruption in the country”.

Yet tributes poured in from the political establishment. The Senate suspended sessions and flew the national flag at half-mast, with Senate President Vicente Sotto III honouring Enrile for his “formidable intellect and compassion to the people”.

Marcos Jnr, whose father Enrile served under – and later helped oust – called him “one of the most enduring and respected public servants the country has ever known”.