Former SolGen Estelito Mendoza passes away

Veteran lawyer and former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza has died, the Philippine National Bank (PNB) confirmed Wednesday.  

PNB, in a disclosure to the Philippine Stocks Exchange, said Mendoza, an esteemed director of the bank, passed away Wednesday. He had served as a director since 1 January 2009.  

“The Bank expresses its deepest gratitude and appreciation for his valuable contributions to the Bank,” PNB said in a statement.

Mendoza served as solicitor general from 1972 to 1986 during the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.  

Beyond his government role, Mendoza became known as a “super lawyer” for his success in defending high-profile political figures in plunder cases.

He represented former President Joseph Estrada during his impeachment trial in 2001 and later served as lead counsel in Estrada’s plunder case following his resignation. He also defended Estrada’s co-accused, Jaime Dichaves, who was cleared of plunder charges by the Sandiganbayan (anti-graft court) in 2018.

Mendoza was instrumental in securing the acquittal of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her plunder case involving the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund scam in 2016.

Additionally, Mendoza represented former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Bong Revilla during the pork barrel scam controversy in 2013. The Sandiganbayan dismissed all charges against Revilla in 2021, while Enrile was acquitted in October 2024.  

Most recently, Mendoza filed a petition on behalf of Vice President Sara Duterte, asking the Supreme Court to dismiss challenges to the constitutionality of her P125 million confidential and intelligence funds.