Ex-President Arroyo mourns death of lawyer Estelito Mendoza
Lawyer Estelito Mendoza —File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Former President Gloria Arroyo on Thursday mourned the death of her lawyer, former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, who passed away at the age of 95.
In a statement, Arroyo shared her family’s long history with Mendoza, starting from when the “super lawyer’s” father was her own father’s favorite teacher in Pampanga.
READ: Estelito Mendoza: The ‘super lawyer’ who shaped PH jurisprudence
Arroyo also looked back on how Mendoza represented her in 2016 when she was acquitted in her plunder case for the alleged misuse of the P366-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund.
“Tatang Titong represented me in that case in the Supreme Court and argued that the prosecution presented no evidence, testimonial or otherwise, showing even the remotest possibility that the confidential and intelligence funds of the PCSO had been diverted to me,” Arroyo said in a statement.
“In a decision penned by then Justice Lucas Bersamin, the Supreme Court dismissed the case and acquitted me. I am eternally grateful to Tatang Titong,” she added.
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo —File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
Arroyo also tagged Mendoza as a legal eagle and lawyer’s lawyer, recognizing his contributions in framing the country’s baselines policy, including on the South China Sea.
“Attorney Mendoza’s legacy is characterized by his unwavering commitment to the rule of law and his significant impact on the Philippine legal system,” Arroyo said.
“His passing is a profound loss not only to me and to others whom he defended in court, but to the nation,” she added.
Mendoza died on Wednesday, March 26.
Apart from Arroyo, he represented several high-profile figures in the country, from Arroyo and former President Joseph Estrada to business tycoon Lucio Tan, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and more recently, Vice President Sara Duterte.
