Zara Jun Salting

Vice President Sara Duterte has denied the allegations of bribing a former Department of Education (DepEd) employee during her press briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Photo Courtesy of Abogado/The Philippine Star.

Former Education Undersecretary Gloria Mercado claimed she was handed envelopes containing P50,000 for 9 months aside from her salary.

Mercado stated it happened after being appointed as the Head of the Procuring Entity (HOPE) for DepEd last February 2023, during a House probe the same day about VP Sara’s alleged misuse of funds 

Duterte immediately refuted the accusation and pointed out Mercado lacked evidence. 

“Dapat siguro kung magakusa siya ng ganyan dapat may papel siya,” she stated.  

In the same press briefing, Duterte mentioned Mercado was fired due to lack of trust with her office.

“Gloria Mercado is a disgruntled former employee of Deped. She was let go because of loss of trust and confidence from the Office of the Secretary” she added.

According to Duterte, Mercado solicited 16 million pesos using her name without any authorization from the department and assigned a personnel from Region 7 to give a non-teaching task.

“HR mismo ng DepEd, our undersec. took a teacher from Region 7, nilagay niya sa central office for a non-teaching task. Ginawa niyang executive assistant,” she explained. 

“That 2nd point, hindi ko na siya pinalampas. Sinabihan ko siya that there is a loss of trust and confidence” Duterte emphasized.

After Duterte has denied the allegations, Mercado presented envelopes she claims once held cash offered to her by Duterte at the House probe.