After reading Artemio Panganiban’s April 23 column titled “Scarborough, Spratlys and Benham,” I could not help going back to what he said about lawyer Estelito Mendoza being a “superlawyer.” Coming from a former chief justice no less, that description spoke volumes about the abilities and capabilities of Mendoza.
To be sure, nine out of 10 lawyers in this country have already conceded that Mendoza is really a cut way—nay, stratospherically way—above the rest of them. He is the biggest superstar in the legal firmament. His record of winning almost all his important cases in the Supreme Court is unparalleled and simply awesome.
Mendoza is the most sought-after defense counsel in so many high-profile cases against public officials, including presidents, accused of massive graft and corruption and plunder. With his open access to the corridors of judicial power—most notably the Supreme Court which takes very careful note of mere letters coming from him, but quickly throws into the trash can those coming from ordinary lawyers for being inappropriate—it’s a sort of insurance worth paying with all their loot for.
I can only wish (and I’m sure I speak for the rest of the Filipino people) Mendoza would find the heart, before going off into the sunset, to do more “heroic” things like helping the country send all big-time crooks to jail, instead of keeping them out. He might still earn a niche in the Libingan ng mga Bayani—not side by side with his former boss, Ferdinand Marcos, please, but far, far away.
ANNALEE LAUDER, annaleelau@gmail.com