By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte wants Michael Poa to remain as part of her legal team in the ongoing impeachment trial, forcing the defense to consider naming a separate spokesperson who is not a member of the panel’s legal ranks.
Poa disclosed the Vice President’s decision Wednesday following another warning from Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero over possible violations of the court’s sub judice rule.
The issue came up on the 15th day of Duterte’s impeachment proceedings, with Escudero reiterating his earlier call for both the prosecution and defense to designate spokespersons outside their respective legal teams.
Poa said he had already discussed the matter with Duterte and that she wanted him to continue working as her counsel.
“I already spoke to our client, the vice president, about it … and she would prefer really that I stay on as counsel,” Poa said.
Should that arrangement push through, Poa said the defense would need to find someone outside its legal team to take over the role of spokesperson.
“So if ever, we will just have to get a spokesperson that is outside of the legal team,” he added.
Poa said the defense has not yet identified who could assume the position, citing the fast-moving developments surrounding the impeachment proceedings.
He said the defense would have to further discuss and explore possible candidates for the role.
For now, Poa said he would continue speaking for the defense, with Atty. Gular assisting him in dealing with media inquiries.
But Poa acknowledged that the defense must be more cautious in responding publicly while the impeachment case remains before the Senate.
The caution stems from Rule 18 of the impeachment rules, which prohibits senators, prosecutors, the respondent, counsels and witnesses from making public comments or disclosures concerning the merits of a pending impeachment trial.
Escudero had earlier urged the prosecution and defense to keep their official spokespersons separate from their legal teams to avoid possible breaches of the rule.
With Duterte opting to retain Poa as counsel, the defense now faces the task of finding a separate voice to handle public communications while its lawyers concentrate on the impeachment proceedings.
ia/xf
