Orlando "Orly" Sanchez Mercado (Tagalog pronunciation:[ˈsɐntʃesmɛɾˈkadɔ], born Orlando Mercado y Sanchez; April 26, 1946) is a Filipinopolitician and broadcast journalist best known for having served as a Senator of the Philippines from 1987 to 1998, Secretary of Defense from 1998 to 2001, and for his long career as a broadcast journalist, most famously for hosting the television program Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko.
Mercado's career in Radio broadcasting began when he got a job as Disc Jockey for the program Night Life on Manila FM Station DZXX. He then became an ABS-CBN journalist in 1968, taking on roles as a reporter for The World Tonight, and for the Radyo Patrol show on ABS-CBN's sister radio station DZAQ (now DZMM).
He was the head and anchor of the popular radio program Radyo Patrol of ABS-CBN from 1969 to 1971 as well as the field reporter for pre-Martial Law days in The World Tonight and the anchor for the Filipino newscast Apat na Sulok ng Daigdig. He also hosted his own morning show, originally called “Orly Bird” however the title of the show was changed after an incident occurred when radio announcer Henry Ragas mistakenly announced “Orly’s Bird” instead. Upon Marcos' Proclamation No. 1081 in 1972, Orly was charged for subversion under Republic Act 1700 (Anti-Subversion Law) and was detained in Fort Bonifacio then his release after nine and a half months in detention, he returned to broadcasting and started teaching.
Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko
Since 1975, Mercado has been the current 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.
Senator of the Philippines
Mercado ran and won as a Senator of the Philippines for two consecutive terms, first in 1987 until 1992, and then again from 1992 to 1998.
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)
Secretary of National Defense
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 (Second 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.
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[5]
In 2009, he was appointed as the first permanent representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, a newly created ambassadorial post which did not then require Commission on Appointments approval.[7]
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.
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 Radyo5 92.3 News FM (now 105.9 True FM).
She was also the Philippine nominee for WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, a post which will be elected in the Sixty-ninth session of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, October 8–12 in Manila, Philippines.[citation needed]
^Mercado resigned as Secretary of National Defense in part of calling the resignation of President Joseph Estrada during the EDSA Revolution II.
^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.
^Vacant due to the Martial Law declared by President Ferdinand Marcos.
‡ — Under the transitory provisions of the Philippine constitution, 24 senators were elected in this election. The first 12 senators who garnered the highest votes would have a 6 six year term while the next 12 senators would have a 3 year term.
