Naghayag ng kalungkutan si Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, kaugnay ng pagpanaw ng kaibigang si Atty. Estelito “Titong” Mendoza.
Si Mendoza ay kilalang trial lawyer na itinuturing ng mga kasamahan sa legal profession bilang highest paid sa kaniyang larangan.
Para kay Enrile, nawalan siya ng kaibigan, habang nawalan naman ng mahal sa buhay ang pamilya Mendoza.
Nabatid na magkumpare ang dalawa dahil ninong si JPE ng isa sa mga anak ng pumanaw na kumpanyero.
“Today, I lost a very, very dear friend, the compleat, brilliant, luminary lawyer, Estelito “Titong” Mendoza. For me, he was one of the best., if not the best, lawyer I have encountered and worked with. I extended my condolence to his wife , Rosy, and family. I was the godfather to one of his daughters.. May he find eternal peace with God in heaven. A very good man has passed away. He was younger than I am, but he was my senior in the UP Law School. Goodbye Titong–my very good and best friend,” wika ni Enrile.
Si Mendoza ay ipinanganak noong Enero 5, 1930.
Siya ay naging gobernador ng Pampanga, Minister of Justice, Solicitor General at mambabatas.
Nakilala rin siya sa galing bilang defense lawyer para sa mga kaso noon ni dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, JPE at iba pang kilalang personalidad.
Isa sa mga huling kasong hahawakan sana ni Mendoza ang confidential fund issues na kinakaharap ni Vice President Sara Duterte.