‍MANILA, Philippines — Atty. Michael Poa has temporarily stepped aside from his roles as counsel and spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team as he prepares to testify before the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday, September 2.

Poa, a former Department of Education undersecretary and chief of staff during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary, is set to be presented by the House prosecution panel as a witness in connection with the alleged misuse of ₱112.5 million in DepEd confidential funds.

Defense Deputy Spokesperson Atty. Justin Nicol Gular said Poa’s temporary withdrawal from his defense roles was appropriate out of respect for the impeachment court.

“I think for the defense team, it’s just proper that considering that Atty. Michael Poa ay isasalang po sa impeachment court, common etiquette and proper decorum dictates that we respect the impeachment court,” Gular said.

According to Gular, the defense team has also stopped communicating with Poa since it became clear that he would take the witness stand.

He said the measure was intended to avoid any communication that could later raise questions involving Poa’s testimony.

Poa is also no longer staying in the defense team’s holding room at the Senate and is instead using the area designated for witnesses.

Gular stressed, however, that Poa’s absence from his spokesperson role is temporary and that he is expected to return after completing his testimony.

For now, Gular is handling media briefings as deputy spokesperson while the defense team and Vice President Duterte consider whether another spokesperson will be designated.

“I think this is still being considered and talked about between the defense team and, of course, the client, the Vice President,” Gular said.

The House prosecution has identified Poa as a key witness because of his previous positions in DepEd during Duterte’s term as education secretary. Prosecutors are expected to question him about the department’s confidential fund expenditures and related documents.

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