He said the allegations were motivated by the “desperation” of certain priests who were not happy with the positions they got following a shuffle in the diocese’s parishes.
Mgr. Mercado has rejected the allegations of some priests and lay people who accused him of misuse of funds intended for victims of natural disasters.
His accusers had asked the apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines, Mgr. Giuseppe Pinto to bring the case to the attention of the Roman Curia and remove the bishop from office.
“All donations are properly receipted and promptly turned over to the intended beneficiaries,” the prelate told Catholic news agency ucanews.
Bishop Mercado’s spokesman, Jerry Habunal, confirmed that six priests had sent a letter to the Nuncio.
“But they are only six out of more than 50 priests in our diocese. They have personal issues and they wanted to be interviewed by the media,” he said.
“I have already met the nuncio - Mercado stated -. To be honest, I haven’t talked to him about that. When needed, why not? I have nothing to hide.”