Damian Mercado

{{Short description|Filipino politician (born 1954)}}

{{Philippine name|Gaviola|Mercado}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honorable

| name = Damian Mercado

| image = HoR Official Portrait of Damian Mercado.jpg

| imagesize =

| smallimage =

| caption = Official portrait during the 16th Congress

| office = Governor of Southern Leyte

| term_start = June 30, 2016
Suspended from August 10, 2017 to October 31, 2018

| term_end =

| predecessor = Roger Mercado

| successor =

| term_start2 = June 30, 2007

| term_end2 = June 30, 2013

| predecessor2 = Rosette Lerias

| successor2 = Roger Mercado

| order =

| office3 = Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Southern Leyte's Lone District

| term_start3 = June 30, 2013

| term_end3 = June 30, 2016

| predecessor3 = Roger Mercado

| successor3 = Roger Mercado

| office4 = Mayor of Maasin

| term_start4 = June 30, 1998

| term_end4 = June 30, 2007

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|11|24}}

| birth_place = Maasin, Leyte, Philippines

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Lakas-CMD (2008–2011; 2024–present){{cite news|url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/10/meet-lakas-cmd-s-106th-member-in-the-house|title=Meet Lakas-CMD's 106th member in the House|first=Ellson|last=Quismoro|date=September 11, 2024|accessdate=September 27, 2024|work=Manila Bulletin}}

| otherparty = PFP (2023–2024)
PDP–Laban (2016–2023)
Liberal (2013–2016)
NUP (2011–2013)
Lakas–NUCD–UMDP (1997–2008)

| First Lady =

| relations =

| children =

| residence =

| alma_mater =

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}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/05/19/1816515/graft-raps-filed-vs-dismissed-southern-leyte-governor-damian-mercado |title=Prosecution hopes to reverse acquittal of former Southern Leyte governor |date=23 June 2019 |website=Manila Bulletin |access-date=2019-08-02}} He also served as representative of the province from 2013 to 2016 and Mayor of Maasin from 1998 to 2007.{{Cite web |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1003856/news-damian-mercado-southern-leyte-ombudsman-court-of-appeals |title=Leyte governor returns to post |date=25 June 2018 |website=Inquirer |access-date=2019-08-02}}

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.{{cite press release|url=https://www.ombudsman.gov.ph/southern-leyte-governor-dismissed-from-the-service/|title=Southern Leyte governor dismissed from the service|date=August 10, 2017|accessdate=July 5, 2025|website=Office of the Ombudsman}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1772067 |title=DILG reinstates Southern Leyte governor |date=1 November 2018 |website=Sunstar |access-date=2019-08-02}} 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.