Orlando S. Mercado

Orlando S. Mercado
Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines
In office June 30, 1998 – January 19, 2001
President	Joseph Estrada
Preceded by	Fortunato Abat
Succeeded by	Vacant[1]
In office January 22, 2001 – January 25, 2001
President	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by	Vacant[2] Post last held by himself
Succeeded by	Angelo Reyes
Senator of the Philippines
In office June 30, 1987 – June 30, 1998
Majority leader of the Senate of the Philippines
In office 1987–1989
President	Corazon Aquino
Preceded by	Vacant[3] Post last held by Arturo Tolentino
Succeeded by	Teofisto Guingona, Jr.
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Quezon City
In office June 30, 1984 – March 25, 1986 Serving with Ismael A. Mathay, Jr., Cecilia Muñoz-Palma and Alberto Romulo
Personal details
Born	April 26, 1946 Manila, Commonwealth of the Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Spouse(s)	Susan Pineda-Mercado[4]
Children	Renzo Orlando P. Mercado
Residence	Makati
Alma mater	University of the Philippines
Occupation	Diplomat, Politician, Professor, Broadcaster
Religion	Protestant[5]

Orlando Sanchez Mercado (born April 26, 1946), better known as Orly Mercado, is a Filipino politician and radio broadcaster. He was a senator of the Philippines for two terms (1987–1992 and 1992–1998) and the head and anchor of the popular radio program Radyo Patrol of ABS-CBN from 1969 to 1971. Upon President Marcos' declaration of martial law in the country in 1972, he was charged for subversion under Republic Act 1700 (Anti-Subversion Law) and was detained in Fort Bonifacio. Upon his release after nine and a half months in detention, he returned to broadcasting and started teaching. Since 1975 Mercado has been the producer and host of GMA Network's Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko (I Love My Fellowmen), the pioneer television program in public service in the Philippines. In 1998, he was appointed Secretary of National Defense by President Joseph Estrada. On January 19, 2001, the Chief of Staff and all of the commanding generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, together with the rest of the military establishment, withdrew their support for President Estrada who was then facing impeachment for plunder and corruption. Their appearance before a throng of protesters at the EDSA Shrine was the culmination of what was to be known as EDSA People Power II (2001 EDSA Revolution), which ousted President Estrada from office. Mercado was reappointed Secretary of Defense by incoming President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but resigned the post in protest of the designation of a former Chief of Staff as National Security Adviser who was also the subject of Mercado's anti-corruption campaign in the Department of National Defense.

In 2008 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo nominated Mercado as Philippine ambassador to the People's Republic of China, also accredited to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Mongolia,^[6] however his nomination was objected to by Senator Jinggoy Estrada (son of President Estrada), then a member of the Commission on Appointments.^[7] In 2009 he was appointed as the first permanent representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, a newly created ambassadorial post that then did not require Commission on Appointments approval.^[7]

He is currently the Secretary-General of the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA), an organization of states, groups and individuals in the general area of Asia and the Pacific. He has taught courses in Public Administration and Communication in the University of the Philippines where he obtained all his degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Master of Arts in Communication, and Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science. He is also a faculty member at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government. On June 17, 2013, he returned to radio broadcasting with his program "Orly Mercado: All Ready" on Radyo Singko 92.3 NewsFM.

Television programs

Year	Title	Role	Network
1975–present	Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko	Host	GMA Network
1980–1983	What's Up	Host	GMA Network
1980–1984	Lasang Pinoy	Host	GMA Network
1970–1971	Apat na Sulok ng Daigdig	Host	ABS-CBN
1974–1975	Tipunang Bayan	Host	GMA Network
1986–1987	Lunch Date	Host	GMA Network
1992–1994	Kontak 5	Host	ABC
2008–2009	Newswatch	Anchor	RPN

Radio programs

Year	Title	Role	Station
2013–present	All Ready	Anchor	Radyo5 92.3 News FM (www.news5.com.ph)]
1994-1995	Kambal Kamao	Anchor	DZRH
1969-1971	Radyo Patrol	Anchor	DZAQ
1966-1968	Night Life	Disc Jockey	DZXX

Significant Contributions

As Senator, among the measures he authored are:

• Generics Drug and Medicines Act of 1988 (R.A. 6675)
• An Act establishing provincial centres for Science and Technology (R.A. 6959)
• Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (R.A. 7277)
• Consumer Act of the Philippines (R.A. 7394)
• An Act promoting Salt Iodization nationwide (R.A. 8172)
• An Act promoting voluntary blood donation, providing for an adequate supply of safe blood, regulating blood banks, providing penalties for violations thereof (R.A. 8180)
• Children’s Media Act of 1996 (R.A. 8370)
• Philippine National Police Reform Act (R.A. 8851)

As Secretary/Minister of Department of National Defense, he:

• Instituted a reorganization program in the Department of National Defense to assert civilian supremacy over the military
• Initiated reforms in the Retirement and Separation Benefit Systems (RSBS), the pension fund of the soldiers
• Instituted a computerization program for the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO)
• Pioneered the use of electronic technology for procurement of equipment and supplies of the Armed Forces of the Philippines ^[8]

As the Philippines' first Permanent Representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he:

• Led efforts in the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) to introduce transparency and accountability in the ASEAN Secretariat by way of extensive budget hearings.
• Initiated ASEAN's strategic communication plan, which could create a level of awareness and understanding about the regional organization as an imperative in the effort to create an ASEAN Community by 2015.

References

1. Mercado resigned as Secretary of National Defense in part of calling the resignation of President Joseph Estrada during the EDSA Revolution II.
2. Mercado resigned as Secretary of National Defense in part of calling the resignation of President Joseph Estrada and was reappointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
3. Vacant due to the Martial Law declared by President Ferdinand Marcos.
4. "Orlando S. Mercado". Department of National Defense. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
5. Bob Tabada. "Libanan’s racket". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
6. gmanews.tv, Ex-defense chief of Erap named new RP envoy to China
7. "Mercado named ASEAN envoy". INQUIRER.net. March 11, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
8. "Orlando Mercado".