Judge Numeriano G. Estenzo Sr., Catmon’s premier legal luminary
Numeriano G. Estenzo Sr. is Catmon’s first lawyer and judge. He was born on July 5, 1909 to Baldomero Estenzo and Sabina Gica. He earned his Bachelor of Laws at the Philippine Law School and was admitted to the Bar on November 18, 1935. He became Cebu City’s pre-war councilor. He was elected Member of the Municipal Board of Cebu City on December 10, 1940.
He was appointed Judge of the Court of the First Instance in Leyte and Iloilo. He married Socorro Suico Cortes, daughter of Elias Ouano Cortes and Florencia Suico. Elias, fondly called “Eling,” served Mandaue as vice mayor and councilor. Dumanjug’s legal eagle and political lieutenant of the legendary Ramon “Noy Amon” Durano of Danao, lawyer Edgar F. Gica of the Ateneo de Manila College of Law is a nephew of Estenzo. Edgar, admitted to the Bar on March 23, 1970, was the son of Guntrano Gica, elected Mayor of Dumanjug in 1963. Edgar’s son Efren Guntrano Gica was elected vice mayor and mayor of Dumanjug in 2016. A nephew of Estenzo (son of his brother Delfin) named Ulysses also became a lawyer (admitted to the Bar on March 10, 1964).
Estenzo died on June 11, 1997 but his legacy did not end with his death, he produced children who serve Cebu and the country. Baldomero became a lawyer on March 13, 1969, a part of the Order of Purple from the University of the Philippines, he became San Miguel Corporation’s vice president, CESAFI Commissioner, and is presently the “Bar topnotcher-producing dean” of University of Cebu’s College of Law. Tarcela, a doctor, married Alfredo Santos. Numeriano Jr. is an entrepreneur and pilot. Teofilo Nilo is an entrepreneur. Artemio, an entrepreneur and sportsman, married Vigilda Sabellana. Socorro II is an RMT. Gloria, a champion for the environment and OCEANA vice president, became a lawyer on May 13, 1980 and married a fellow lawyer, Dante T. Ramos., Sabina Cortes Kho, and Elisa who married Gil Ferdinand Torres.
Among the cases decided by Numeriano is the San Vicente Ferrer case, where the constitutionality of the resolutions of Barangay Valencia, Ormoc City, were questioned on March 23, 1976. The barrio council bought an image of the patron saint to use in its annual fiesta. This was given to the parish but the priest refused to give it back, thus a replevin was filed, complicated further by an Aglipayan questioning the action of the council. The Supreme Court on May 25, 1981 affirmed Estenzo’s ruling. The Estenzo Clan is one of the 75 Families of Distinction of Cebu City awarded by the Cebu City government during its 75th Charter Day in 2012.
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