Estelito Mendoza passes away

Veteran lawyer and former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza has passed away at 95 years old.

The Philippine National Bank (PNB) confirmed Mendoza's passing in a disclosure to the Philippine Stocks Exchange (PSE). 

"We are deeply saddened to report the passing of Atty. Estelito P. Mendoza, an esteemed director of the Philippine National Bank (the “Bank”), today, March 26, 2025. Atty. Mendoza has been a director of the Bank since January 1, 2009," PNB said in a statement. 

"The Bank expresses its deepest gratitude and appreciation for his valuable contributions to the Bank." it added.

Prior to being a private lawyer, Mendoza served numerous positions under the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. 

From 1972 until 1986, Mendoza was the solicitor general, the government’s top lawyer, under the Marcos administration.

He also served as chief of the Ministry of Justice, now called the Department of Justice, from 1984 until 1986.

Mendoza also served as the governor of Pampanga from 1980 to 1984. Prior to that, he was a member of the Batasang Pambansa from 1978 to 1980. He returned to Batasan in 1984 until 1986.

In an interview with GMA News Online in 2010, Mendoza said he decided to practice law after 1986, following the People Power Revolution that ousted the former president.

"After 1986, I became jobless, so I lost my job. I decided to practice law, the only occupation I knew. I practiced by myself because others were apprehensive that my practice will not endure because of the bias against all Marcoses. [I thought] I might probably win a case and will have no clients," he said.

"Fortunately, it turned otherwise. President Aquino, in creating a PCGG, provided ready clients for me. All those being sued by the government became my clients, like Lucio Tan and Danding Cojuangco, who even up to now are my clients in their businesses," he added. —with a report from Joahna Lei Casilao/VAL/AOL, GMA Integrated News