Former Education Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado. Photo from House of Representatives of the Philippines’ Facebook page.
MANILA, Philippines — Office of the Vice President (OVP) Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez has confirmed telling former Education Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado to resign, having lost Vice President Sara Duterte’s trust and confidence.
Lopez admitted this during the hearing of the House of Representatives’ committee on good government and public accountability on Wednesday, when asked by Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro about the incident.
Mercado told the same panel during its September 25 hearing that Lopez approached her sometime in October 2023, saying that she should resign from her post. The former Department of Education (DepEd) official said this happened after she raised concerns regarding the agency’s computerization procurement.
“You will agree with me that this is a very serious thing, asking somebody to resign, somebody who has rendered service in the government for more than 30 years already, is this correct?” Luistro asked.
“Your Honor, Mr. Chair, this is not to belittle the credentials of Usec. Mercado. It is not. But the reason that I was instructed to tell her (to resign is) that the principal has lost her trust and confidence in her already, your Honors. So that is what I can say,” Lopez said.
Luistro, however, reminded Lopez — Vice President Sara Duterte’s chief-of-staff — that there are rules to be followed when deliberating a dismissal order against a government official. When Lopez said that she informed Mercado of the reasons why she had to resign, Luistro claimed this was not the case.
“By constructive dismissal, you are placed in a situation where you have no other option but to resign. I understand that Usec. Mercado is occupying a position of confidence, however, Atty. Zuleika you will agree with me that the requirements of due process, notice, and hearing, are fundamental. Did you follow the requirements of due process before you asked Usec. Mercado to resign?” Luistro asked.
“I informed her your Honor of the reasons why […] Yes I followed the due process,” Lopez replied.
“Mr. Chair if Atty. Zuleika is maintaining the position that she followed the requirements of due process, question number one, did you give her a copy of the complaint? No. Did you set a hearing for her? Yes or no? Three, did you come up with a resolution on the issue that is being charged against her? Yes or no?” Luistro asked again.
“No, your Honor,” Lopez answered.
Furthermore, Luistro disputed Lopez’ assertions that relaying Duterte’s directive for Mercado to resign is not an isolated incident, as there were five other DepEd officials whom the OVP Undersecretary asked to leave
“Attorney, I want to go back to the issue on Usec. Mercado, you said earlier that this is an isolated occasion? During the time that she gave her testimony, she made mention that there are five other DepEd officials whom you advised to resign,” Luistro noted.
“That is correct your Honor, I was also instructed by the Vice President […] It’s a task, your Honor, that I do not do as chief-of-staff, on a regular basis. That is what I meant. These were instructions that were given to me by the principal primarily because she said it cannot be Michael Poa who will handle it because it will already create friction among senior officials in the Department of Education,” Lopez said.
“Do you honestly believe that there are six whom you asked to resign, this is still an isolated incident? […] I am inclined to believe, Atty. Zuleika, that what happened to Usec. Mercado happened also to these DepEd officials,” Luistro added.
Mercado last September 25 said that she asserted that the “procurement must be implemented and conducted in strict adherence to the rules” — which she believes merited Lopez’ message.
“It was as if I had become an unwelcome obstacle, despite simply doing my job as hope and undersecretary of DepEd. Prior to my meeting with Ms. Zuleika, there were other undersecretaries and assistant secretaries who were also summoned, all with the same purpose of informing them that they should tender their resignation effective on the same day,”
Mercado did not clarify what particular issue hounded DepEd’s computerization program, but it could be remembered that lawmakers last September 2 called out the agency’s past administration for its inability to deliver laptops and other technical equipment in 2023, which resulted in low utilization of its budget.
READ: Ex-DepEd exec: VP Duterte’s staff asked me to resign over purchase issue
Duterte, however, dismissed Mercado’s testimony, saying that the former DepEd official was just a disgruntled employee that was let go from the department for soliciting money from private companies.
READ: Ex-Usec Mercado: No money solicited in official DepEd program
Mercado however, clarified that the the issue raised by Duterte was actually an official government program — a system that would have allowed Duterte t,o contact teachers wherever she may be.
According to Mercado, the allegation that she solicited P16 million from private companies was one of the reasons cited by Lopez, when she asked Mercado to resign from DepEd.