By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s former spokesperson at the Department of Education (DepEd), Michael Poa, is emerging as a potentially pivotal witness in the Senate impeachment trial over the alleged misuse of confidential funds, lawmakers said Monday.
Poa, who now serves as part of Duterte’s defense counsel, has been listed as a prosecution witness as the Senate impeachment court examines allegations involving the use of confidential funds during her tenure as DepEd secretary and vice president.
House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V said Poa occupies a critical position in the case because of his previous role as Duterte’s spokesperson at DepEd and his participation in the House’s 2024 investigation into the confidential fund controversy.
“His statements to the good governance [panel] when he was a resource person are still pending… Now we are in the impeachment court and I believe this is the proper forum to clarify the questions,” Ortega told reporters.
“Whether Atty. Poa is a hostile witness or not, I believe he’s one of the central figures in this impeachment and here in this article,” he added.
The lawmaker said Poa’s proximity to Duterte’s operations at DepEd could make his testimony particularly significant as prosecutors seek to establish what he knew about the confidential funds and how they were handled.
“He is the mouth of the vice president, and you cannot speak, you cannot defend, you cannot honor your words if you don’t know, if you don’t know all the details and you don’t know the whole process. That’s how important he is to the trial,” Ortega said.
Poa had previously appeared before the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability during its 2024 inquiry into Duterte’s use of confidential funds.
During that hearing, DepEd Undersecretary Nolasco Mempin testified that Poa had requested military certifications connected to DepEd’s response to a Commission on Audit audit observation memorandum.
Ortega said Poa’s responses during the House proceedings were limited and could now be clarified under oath before the impeachment court.
He also suggested that Poa’s testimony could carry greater weight than that of Col. Raymund Lachica, Duterte’s former security officer who was alleged to have obtained confidential funds to implement activities under her orders.
“I can see the weight of his testimony or his sitting more than the weight of Colonel Lachica’s sitting. Because I think at the end of the day, Atty. Poa knows more information than Lachica,” Ortega said.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante likewise questioned Poa’s earlier assertion that he did not know how confidential funds were used at DepEd.
“In our investigation by the committee on good government, he said he had nothing to do with it, that he didn’t know what was happening. It’s funny that he’s the spokesperson for our vice president but he doesn’t know what’s happening,” Abante said.
“He is the spokesperson for our vice president. He should know. Where have you seen a spokesperson who doesn’t know what’s going on?” he added.
Abante said Poa should clarify the extent of his knowledge rather than simply deny involvement.
Poa, for his part, has indicated that he is prepared to testify and does not intend to invoke attorney-client privilege unless circumstances require it.
“I welcome the opportunity to testify on the extent of my participation in the subject matter, and perhaps even shed some light on what really transpired during those CGGPA hearings conducted by the House of Representatives,” Poa said in a text message.
Ortega said the prosecution is prepared for the possibility that Poa could invoke attorney-client privilege or provide testimony that does not conform to the prosecution’s expectations.
“If the prosecutors or the prosecution team asked him to be part of the roster of witnesses, even if he is a hostile witness, it means the team is prepared for anything he may say or invoke, or ultimately whatever their strategy is,” Ortega said.
Poa’s appearance before the impeachment court is expected to place renewed focus on what he knew, what he communicated and what role he may have played in matters surrounding the confidential funds—issues that lawmakers say remain central to the impeachment allegations against Duterte.
ia/xf
