Defense counsel Michael Poa, former DepEd official, could be pivotal witness in VP trial — lawmakers

Former Department of Education (DepEd) spokesperson Michael Poa could emerge as a pivotal prosecution witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, according to House lawmakers, who argue his insider role gives him direct insight into the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Poa, who now serves on Duterte’s defense team, has expressed readiness to take the stand before the Senate impeachment court as it scrutinizes confidential fund disbursements made during Duterte’s tenure as DepEd secretary and vice president.

Central Role in Fund Oversight

Lawmakers emphasized that Poa’s former dual role as spokesperson and key administrative official makes his potential testimony crucial.

During the 2024 House committee on good governance and public accountability inquiry, DepEd Undersecretary Nolasco Mempin testified that Poa personally requested military certifications required by the department to respond to an audit observation memorandum from the Commission on Audit (COA).

While Poa previously testified before the House panel, House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V noted that his answers were limited—gaps Ortega expects the impeachment court to address.

“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... all the details and... the whole process,” Ortega told reporters. “That’s how important he is to the trial.”

Ortega added that Poa’s testimony could carry significantly more weight than that of Col. Raymund Lachica, Duterte’s former security officer who directly received confidential funds for mandated activities, reasoning that Poa likely holds broader context regarding the operations.

Questioning Prior Disclaimers

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante openly questioned Poa’s previous claims of ignorance regarding the allocation and disbursement of DepEd’s confidential funds. Abante argued that such claims contradict Poa's role in addressing audit issues raised by state regulators.

“In our investigation... he said he had nothing to do with it, that he didn’t know what was happening,” Abante said. “It’s funny that he’s the spokesperson for our vice president, but he doesn’t know what’s happening.”

Attorney-Client Privilege

Poa confirmed he is ready to testify and indicated he does not intend to invoke attorney-client privilege unless absolutely necessary. This stance opens the door for both prosecutors and senator-judges to directly question him on his firsthand knowledge of the handling, movement, and auditing of confidential funds during his time at DepEd.

-Paraluman News