Mercado will take over the highly acclaimed 9 o'clock edition of 'Newsroom,' currently anchored by Mitzi Borromeo.
The news anchor is said to be eyeing an exit from the local CNN station to pursue an advanced degree.
The morning program will be one of the first casualties from the ESPN deal.
"Kung gusto i-bounce back ni Pangulong Duterte 'yung kanyang approval rating, dapat makita niya talaga [kung] ano ang gusto ng ibat-ibang sectors."
The secretary of Foreign Affairs appeared on 'UpFront' to talk about the Duterte administration's bloody drug campaign.