{{Short description|Filipino lawyer and politician (born 1951)}} {{Philippine name|Gaviola|Mercado}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Roger Mercado | office = Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Southern Leyte's 1st district | term_start = June 30, 2025 | predecessor = Luz Mercado | office1 = Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Southern Leyte's at-large district | term_start1 = June 30, 2016 | term_end1 = October 13, 2021 | predecessor1 = Damian Mercado | successor1 = District dissolved | image = Rep. Roger Mercado (20th Congress).jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2025 | birth_name = Roger Gaviola Mercado | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|8|29}} | birth_place = Maasin, Leyte, Philippines | spouse = Luz Mercado | predecessor4 = Nicanor Yñiguez | successor4 = Rosette Lerias | term_start4 = June 30, 1987 | term_end4 = October 15, 1991 | predecessor3 = Rosette Lerias | successor3 = Aniceto G. Saludo Jr. | term_start3 = June 30, 1992 | term_end3 = June 30, 1998 | term_start2 = June 30, 2004 | term_end2 = June 30, 2013 | predecessor2 = Aniceto G. Saludo Jr. | successor2 = Damian Mercado | office5 = Governor of Southern Leyte | vice_governor5 = Sheferred Lino Tan | term_start5 = June 30, 2013 | term_end5 = June 30, 2016 | predecessor5 = Damian Mercado | successor5 = Damian Mercado | office6 = Secretary of Public Works and Highways | term_start6 = October 13, 2021 | term_end6 = June 30, 2022 | president6 = Rodrigo Duterte | predecessor6 = Mark Villar | successor6 = Manuel Bonoan | alma_mater = Silliman University (AB) <br> San Beda University (LLB) <br> National Defense College of the Philippines (MNSA) <br> Development Academy of the Philippines (MPM) | party = NPC (2024–present) | other_party = {{Plainlist| *Lakas–CMD (2008–2011; 2019–2024)<ref name="JOPJI"/> *PDP–Laban (2018–2019)<ref name="RapplerBueza">{{cite news|last=Bueza|first=Michael|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/229928-when-political-butterflies-switch-party-alliance/|title=Midterm exodus: When political butterflies switch party alliances|access-date=February 9, 2025|website=Rappler|date=May 11, 2019|location=Manila, Philippines}}</ref> *NUP (2011–2013)<ref>{{cite news|last=Ranada|first=Pia|title=Cops get 'gifts' from S. Leyte bets|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/elections/28829-police-get-gifts-from-local-bets-s-leyte/|access-date=February 9, 2025|work=Rappler|publisher=Rappler Inc.|date=May 11, 2013|location=Manila, Philippines|quote=Roger Mercado, the incumbent congressman of Southern Leyte who is running for governor under the National Unity Party (NUP)[...]}}</ref> *Lakas–NUCD/Lakas–CMD (1992–2008)<ref>{{cite news|last=Jacinto|first=Gerry|title=Solon accuses businesswoman of 'lying' on Laguna land mess|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Fs0AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA36|access-date=February 9, 2025|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corp.|date=November 29, 1992|page=3|quote=Rep. Roger Mercado (NUCD-Leyte), chairman of the House body [committee on agrarian reform], hinted that [Elena] Lim, owner of Solid Corp. [...] maybe accused of "perjury" because she testified under oath.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=PDI Visayas Bureau|title=Old faces in 'new politics'|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tqU2AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14|access-date=February 9, 2025|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=March 10, 2001|page=A14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Napallacan|first=Jhunnex|title=Gloria allies in Cebu also in disarray over local polls|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VY1AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA15|access-date=February 9, 2025|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=March 2, 2007|page=A15}}</ref> *LDP (1989–1992)<ref>{{cite news|last=Maragay|first=Fel|title=2 senators brand as ploy House move on March polls|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jfoZAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3|access-date=February 9, 2025|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Manila Standard News, Inc.|date=January 14, 1989|page=3|quote=[...]Rep. Roger Mercado (LDP-Leyte) walked out[...]}}</ref><ref name="MSBackers">{{cite news|title=Backers confident of Mitra's win|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1q4mAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA6|access-date=February 9, 2025|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corp.|date=October 28, 1991|page=6|quote=The [Supreme] Court declared[... Rosette Yñiguez] Lerias against Rep. Roger Mercado (LDP-Southern Leyte).}}</ref> *Liberal (1988; 2013–2018)<ref>{{cite news|title=House bills filed|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LJkVAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA7|access-date=February 9, 2025|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Standard Publications, Inc.|date=April 28, 1988|page=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Alviola|first=Derek|title=Southern Leyte Gov Mercado: 'We're 100% Roxas-Robredo'|url=https://www.rappler.com/moveph/131287-mercado-southern-leyte-roxas-robredo/|access-date=February 9, 2025|work=Rappler|publisher=Rappler Inc.|date=April 30, 2016|location=Southern Leyte, Philippines}}</ref><ref name="RapplerBueza"/> *Lakas ng Bayan (1987)<ref name=":0"/> }} }} '''Roger "Oging" Gaviola Mercado''' (born August 29, 1951) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who is currently congressman of Southern Leyte's 1st district since 2025. He served as congressman of Southern Leyte's at-large district from 1987 to 1991, 1992 to 1998, 2004 to 2013, and 2016 to 2021, as well as Governor of Southern Leyte from 2013 to 2016. He was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the Secretary of Public Works and Highways, serving from 2021 to 2022.
==Early life and education== Mercado studied elementary at Maasin Central School from 1958 to 1964, he studied high school at St. Joseph College from 1964 to 1968, he studied political science at Silliman University from 1969 to 1977, he studied for a master's in national security administration at the National Defense College of the Philippines, and he studied AFP Command and General Staff Course Class 68-2021 Armed Forces of the Philippines Education Training and Doctrine Command and General Staff College for a master's in public management, majoring in development and security, at the Development Academy of the Philippines from 2020 to 2021.
==Career== ===House of Representatives (1987–1991, 1992–1998, 2004–2013)=== As a member of Lakas ng Bayan, Mercado initially won as representative of Southern Leyte's lone congressional district in the 1987 Philippine House of Representatives elections.{{Sfn|Suarez|1997|p=196}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x58VAAAAIBAJ&dq=Roger+Mercado&pg=PA2&article_id=5006,1177230|title=High court dismisses poll protest|date=September 17, 1987|publisher=Manila Standard|language=en}}</ref> During his tenure as congressman, he was a member in the House Committee on Labor and Employment, the House Committee on Science and Technology, the House Committee on Justice, the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reform, the House Committee of Trade and Industry, the House Committee of Ways and Means, and the House Committee on Sports.{{Sfn|Congress|1987}} He opposed the Presidential Commission Against Graft.{{Sfn|Suarez|1997|p=197}} On October 15, 1991, however, the Supreme Court declared Mercado's electoral opponent Rosette Lerias as having won the 1987 election by 146 votes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lanuza|first=Angelo|title=High court unseats S. Leyte solon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LJkVAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA7|access-date=February 9, 2025|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corp.|date=October 16, 1991|page=7}}</ref><ref name="MSBackers"/>
Mercado won a fresh term as representative of Southern Leyte's lone district in 1992. He was later named chair of the House Agrarian Reform Committee.{{Sfn|Riedinger|1995|p=187}}<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YLgmAAAAIBAJ&dq=Roger+Mercado&pg=PA95&article_id=6409,3053729|title=House members promoting people's consultation|date=March 19, 1993|publisher=Manila Standard|language=en}}</ref> He was re-elected in 1995.
Mercado ran for governor in the 2001 Philippine general election, losing to Rosette Lerias of the Nationalist People's Coalition, with him running with Lakas-CMD again. He gained 65,522 votes while Lerias gained 67,047 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3aU2AAAAIBAJ&dq=Roger+Mercado&pg=PA13&article_id=3395,44897174|title=Who's winning, who's losing in the provinces|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|language=en|date=May 19, 2001|access-date=February 9, 2025|page=A19}}</ref>
He later returned to Congress, having been elected for the lone district of Southern Leyte conce again in 2004. He was re-elected in 2007 and 2010.
===Governor of Southern Leyte (2013–2016)=== In 2013, Mercado was successfully elected Governor of Southern Leyte, succeeding his brother Damian. He opted not to seek re-election to run for representative in 2016, which he would win.
===House of Representatives (2016–2021)=== Elected in 2016, Mercado was re-elected as representative in 2019 under the ruling PDP–Laban. In December 2019, he left PDP-Laban to return to the Lakas–CMD party.<ref name="JOPJI">{{cite news|author=PJI|title=Romualdez: Lakas growing, getting stronger|url=https://journal.com.ph/romualdez-lakas-growing-getting-stronger/|access-date=February 9, 2025|work=Journal Online|date=October 18, 2020}}</ref>
===Secretary of Public Works and Highways (2021–2022)=== On October 12, 2021, Mercado was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to become the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways. He succeeded Mark Villar, who resigned from the post to run for senator.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 14, 2021|title=Mercado Formally Takes DPWH Post|url=https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/news/24459|access-date=November 5, 2024|website=Department of Public Works and Highways}}</ref> Because of the appointment, he withdrew his re-election bid for representative of Southern Leyte's 1st congressional district, which was then newly redistricted. His wife, Luz Mercado, ran for the re-election bid of Mercado,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Galvez |first=Daphne |date=13 October 2021 |title=Southern Leyte Rep. Mercado is new DPWH chief |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1501382/southern-leyte-rep-mercado-is-new-dpwh-chief |access-date=November 5, 2024 |website=Inquirer |language=en}}</ref> eventually winning as congresswoman.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 ELECTION RESULTS: Southern Leyte |url=https://ph.rappler.com/elections/2022/southern-leyte |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514205234/https://ph.rappler.com/elections/2022/southern-leyte |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2024 |website=Rappler |language=en}}</ref> He served as secretary until Duterte ended his presidential term on June 30, 2022.
===Representative (2025–present)=== Mercado ran for representative of Southern Leyte's 1st congressional district in 2025 and won. He would succeed his wife Luz, who decided to run for mayor of Maasin instead of seeking re-election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/5/12/pamilya-mercado-hawak-pa-rin-ang-southern-leyte-0430|title=Pamilya Mercado, hawak pa rin ang Southern Leyte|first=Sharon|last=Evite|language=Filipino|date=May 12, 2025|accessdate=May 31, 2025|work=ABS-CBN News}}</ref> On May 11, 2026, Mercado voted against the second impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, contrasting with the favorable vote of his wife Luz during the first impeachment of Duterte in 2025.<ref>{{cite news|title=LOOK: How your congressman voted in Sara Duterte impeachment case|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2226558/look-how-your-congressman-voted-in-the-sara-duterte-impeachment-proceedings|access-date=May 11, 2026|work=Inquirer.net|date=May 11, 2026|location=Manila, Philippines}}</ref>
==Controversy== Following the 2001 Philippine general election, Rosette Lerias, an opponent of Mercado, filed an election protest against him, citing lack of merit. Two lawyers were present, though the protest was dismissed. Following the dismissal, a proclamation was filed, which was stalled when Mercado also filed a protest on May 17, which was also dismissed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Arnaiz |first=Jane |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=paU2AAAAIBAJ&dq=Roger+Mercado&pg=PA14&article_id=415,16830606 |title=Comelec proclaims Leyte gov |date=22 June 2001 |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}}</ref> She also created an election protest in the 1987 elections, which was declined.<ref name=":0" /> The next year, she accused Mercado of allegedly stealing four ballot boxes, which allegedly contains more than 146 votes in favor of Lerias.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_5gVAAAAIBAJ&dq=Roger+Mercado&pg=PA7&article_id=3399,748502 |title=Ballot box snatching quiz asked |date=13 March 1988 |publisher=Manila Standard |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Bibliography== *{{Cite book|last=Congress (1987- ) |first=Philippines |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SUSOAAAAMAAJ&dq=Roger+Mercado&pg=PT154 |title=The Philippine Congress, 1987-1992 |date=1988 |publisher=Creative Computech Pub. |language=en |ref={{SfnRef|Congress|1987}}}} *{{Cite book|last=Riedinger |first=Jeffrey M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FlasRfravpEC&dq=Roger+Mercado&pg=PA187 |title=Agrarian Reform in the Philippines: Democratic Transitions and Redistributive Reform |date=1995 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-2530-9 |language=en}} *{{Cite book|last=Suarez |first=Rolando A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwo40tCliVMC&dq=Roger+Mercado&pg=PA196 |title=Nasa tao ang gawa, nasa Diyos ang awa |date=1997 |publisher=Rex Bookstore, Inc. |isbn=978-971-23-2238-9 |language=tl}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercado, Roger}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Filipino lawyers Category:20th-century Filipino politicians Category:Duterte administration cabinet members Category:Governors of Southern Leyte Category:Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino politicians Category:Lakas ng Bayan politicians Category:Lakas–CMD (1991) politicians Category:Lakas–CMD politicians Category:Liberal Party (Philippines) politicians Category:Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Southern Leyte Category:Nationalist People's Coalition politicians Category:National Unity Party (Philippines) politicians Category:Partido Demokratiko Pilipino politicians Category:People from Maasin Category:Politicians from Southern Leyte Category:San Beda University alumni Category:Secretaries of public works and highways of the Philippines Category:Silliman University alumni