Damian Mercado | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait during the 16th Congress | |
| Governor of Southern Leyte | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2016 Suspended from August 10, 2017 to October 31, 2018 [1] | |
| Vice Governor | Christopherson Yap (2016–2022) Rosa Emilia Mercado (since 2022) |
| Preceded by | Roger Mercado |
| In office June 30,2007 –June 30,2013 | |
| Vice Governor | Miguel Maamo II |
| Preceded by | Rosette Lerias |
| Succeeded by | Roger Mercado |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Southern Leyte's Lone District | |
| In office June 30,2013 –June 30,2016 | |
| Preceded by | Roger Mercado |
| Succeeded by | Roger Mercado |
| Mayor of Maasin | |
| In office June 30,1998 –June 30,2007 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 24,1954 Maasin,Leyte,Philippines |
| Political party | Lakas-CMD (2008–2011;2024–present) [2] |
| Other political affiliations | PFP (2023–2024) PDP–Laban (2016–2023) Liberal (2013–2016) NUP (2011–2013) Lakas–NUCD–UMDP (1997–2008) |
Damian Gaviola Mercado (born November 24,1954) is a Filipino politician from the province of Southern Leyte in the Philippines. He currently serves as the Governor of Southern Leyte since 2016 and previously from 2007 to 2013. [3] He also served as representative of the province from 2013 to 2016 and Mayor of Maasin from 1998 to 2007. [4]
On August 10,2017,Mercado was dismissed and preventively suspended as governor by the Ombudsman of the Philippines for alleged misconduct related to a 2007 vehicle procurement during his term as Maasin mayor. [5] However,his suspension was overturned by the Court of Appeals in May 22,2018,reinstating him as governor by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on October 31,2018. [1] Under Philippine law,preventive suspension doesn’t interrupt an official’s term,so Mercado remained eligible to seek re-election as governor in 2025,which he won.
