House of Representatives.
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The House of Representatives has adopted two resolutions seeking to condole with the families of lawyer Estelito Mendoza, the former solicitor general of late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Artemio Adasa Jr.
House Resolution Nos. 2290 and 2286 paid tribute to Mendoza and Adasa, respectively.
Mendoza was 95 when he died on March 25. Before his death, he served as the director of the Philippine National Bank since January 1, 2009. He was the solicitor general of Marcos Sr. from 1972 to 1986.
Mendoza was also tapped to represent Vice President Sara Duterte in her three certiorari petitions before the Supreme Court over the controversial P125 million confidential fund she received in 2022.
搁贰础顿:听Ex-President Arroyo mourns death of lawyer Estelito Mendoza
Touted as a 鈥渟uper鈥� lawyer, Mendoza represented several high-profile politicians before the Sandiganbayan and Supreme Court. Among them former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., and Juan Ponce Enrile, the current president鈥檚 chief legal adviser.
Mendoza also served as a member of the Batasang Pambansa representing Pampanga, governor of Pampanga, and minister of justice. He also chaired the committees on revision of laws and codes and constitutional amendments, and was a member of several key panels, including appropriations, energy, and foreign affairs.
鈥淭he passing of this esteemed and well-respected government servant, and a man of integrity, honor, and unwavering dedication to public service marks a profound and significant loss that is deeply felt not only by his family, relatives, and friends but also by the legal profession and the entire nation,鈥� the resolution reads, as quoted by House Speaker Martin Romualdez鈥檚 office.
On the other hand, Adasa was the representative of the first legislative district of Zamboanga del Norte in the 8th and 9th Congress, as well as the deputy secretary general of the Legislative Operations Department until his retirement in 2017.
Adasa co-authored the Local Government Code of 1991, the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989, the Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991, the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and the Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995.
The resolutions were authored by Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga, Deputy Speaker David Suarez, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre./mr