President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named Gloria Mercado, a former Department of Education (DepEd) official who previously delivered damaging testimony against Vice President Sara Duterte, as the new commissioner of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).
Mercado, who served as an undersecretary during Duterte’s leadership at DepEd, officially took her oath of office on April 23 in Quezon City. She was sworn in alongside fellow appointees Leo Intia and Camilo Gudmalin to the agency, which operates under the Office of the President.
Her appointment follows a high-profile appearance before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability in September 2024.
During those congressional inquiries, Mercado emerged as a central witness regarding alleged financial irregularities within the Vice President’s office.
Specifically, Mercado claimed to have received nine envelopes, each containing ₱50,000, during her tenure. These allegations of questionable cash transactions were met with a sharp rebuttal from the Vice President.
Duterte dismissed the claims, characterizing Mercado as a “disgruntled former employee” and accusing her of unauthorized solicitation.
“She was let go because of loss of trust and confidence (of the) Office of the (Education) Secretary,” Duterte stated at the time.
The Vice President further alleged that Mercado had attempted to solicit approximately ₱16 million by using the DepEd chief’s name without prior authorization.
Despite the public rift and the ongoing scrutiny of the Vice President’s confidential funds, the Chief Executive’s decision to integrate Mercado into the NCSC marks her formal return to government service under the current administration.