Azriel Mikey Rejano

Former Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Gloria Mercado said on Sept. 25  that she received a series of envelopes from Vice President Sara Duterte that contained a total of 450,000 pesos in a hearing at the House of Representatives.
Photo Courtesy of Inquirer.net.

Mercado received a total of nine envelopes every month worth 50,000 pesos each, summing to 450,000 pesos labeled HoPE during her stint as head of DepEd Procuring Entity (HoPE) in 2023.

“Between February 2023 to September 2023, I received a total of nine envelopes labeled HoPE, my concurrent position in DepEd during that time. These envelopes were handed to me monthly by Assistant Secretary Sunshine Fajarda which she says came directly from the office of Vice President Sara Duterte,” Mercado said.

She received the money before Duterte resigned from her DepEd secretary post in July 2024.

"Galing kay VP [Sara], is what she would typically say as she hands the envelopes. It would appear that I received these envelopes by virtue of my office as HoPE. Atty. Sunshine Fajarda is the wife of Edward D. Fajarda who is the Special Disbursement Officer,” she added.

Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro asked if Mercado believed that she was  given the money as a bribe, where Mercado replied it’s harsh to call it as such, and this envelope could influence her decision being the head of HoPE.

“You will not uncomfortably open an envelope you describe as an allowance. You will not be thinking about the ombudsman case. You will not be protecting yourself. The reason why you are considering all these concerns is because you believe that that envelope is a bribe, do you agree?” Luistro said.

“It’s a kind of a harsh word to use: bribe,” Mercado replied.

Luistro asked Mercado “is it meant to influence your decision being the HoPE?”

Mercado answered, “it could be.”

In Duterte's press conference she mentioned that Mercado should bring evidence that will prove her accusation to her and her staff.

Duterte told the press that Mercado is a disgruntled former DepEd employee.

“Gloria Mercado is a disgruntled former employee of the DepEd. She was let go because of loss of trust and confidence sa Office of the Secretary,” Duterte said.

"I think hindi niya matanggap bakit siya pinalayas sa DepEd.”

Zuleika Lopez, chief of staff of Vice President Duterte and undersecretary at the Office of the Vice President asked Mercado to resign when she refused the negotiated procurement for DepEd Computerization Program.

“I refused to resign and I insisted on departing from service through voluntary retirement. The timing of my meeting with Ms. Zuleika struck me as more than coincidental, it gave me the impression that my candid responses were the real reason behind the push to relieve me of my office. It was as if I had become an unwelcome obstacle, despite simply doing my job as hope and Undersecretary of DepEd,” Mercado noted.

Duterte gave two reasons why she lost confidence and trust towards Mercado.

“Naka-strike two siya sa akin. Ang una niyang ginawa, nag-solicit siya ng P16 million sa isang kumpanya on paper using my name without any authorization from the Department of Education,” according to Duterte.

“Pangalawa, noong nag-school visit ako sa Cebu, merong lumapit sa akin na teacher. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Inday Sara, masakit sa loob namin na mga teachers kami na nasa field tapos merong humahawak ng teacher items na wala dito sa aming probinsya o wala dito sa aming region,’’ she added.

Mercado denied that she solicited in the private company.

“l did not solicit. There's no money involved there. It’s not cash. It involves equipment to be turned over to DepEd,” Mercado noted.

“So, I feel very sad that up until now, the Vice has not been appraised as I explained it to her people, that we did not solicit. In fact, the two corporations are willing to give an affidavit that I have no solicitation from them [worth] P16 million,” she added.

The money in the envelope was donated to a non-government organization noted by Mercado, and she also received a receipt for this donation.