Gordon pays tribute to mentor Estelito Mendoza

Former senator Richard “Dick” Gordon paid tribute to the late former Solicitor General Estelito “Titong” Mendoza, calling him one of the country’s “foremost lawyers” and a mentor who left a lasting impact on Philippine law and governance.

Mendoza passed away on 27 March, as confirmed by the Philippine National Bank, where he served as a director since 1 January 2009. He was 94.

Gordon, who is also chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross, recalled Mendoza as his professor at the UP College of Law, a fraternity brother, and a close friend. He shared how Mendoza once encouraged him to pursue a political path when he was still a law student.

"Years ago, when I was his student at the UP College of Law, I sought his advice about taking a leave of absence from my studies to run as a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. He encouraged me to do so, freeing me from self-doubt," Gordon wrote in a Facebook post.

Throughout the years, Mendoza maintained ties with Gordon, offering insights and perspectives, especially when Gordon chaired the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Gordon also remembered Mendoza’s openness to reconciliation with a fellow fraternity brother — a gesture that showed the late lawyer’s capacity for humility and understanding.

“Titong was a Upsilonian par excellence — talented and fully capable of making a difference, no matter the challenges he faced in life,” Gordon said, praising Mendoza’s brilliance and legal acumen despite his hearing impairment. He noted how Mendoza’s daughter, Susan, played a key role in supporting his work over the years.

A fixture in the country’s legal landscape, Mendoza served as solicitor general from 1972 to 1986 and earned a reputation as a “super lawyer” for successfully defending high-profile political figures. His most notable clients included former Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and Senator Bong Revilla. More recently, he represented Vice President Sara Duterte in a Supreme Court petition involving confidential and intelligence funds.

Gordon expressed his condolences to Mendoza’s wife Rosa, their children, and extended family, saying, “Your wisdom and friendship will forever be remembered and cherished.”