Poa Testifies in Duterte Impeachment Trial Over Fund Misuse

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered a critical phase on September 2, 2026, as the House prosecution panel called a key figure from the defense team, lawyer Michael Wesley Poa, to testify on the alleged misuse of confidential funds. Poa, who served as an undersecretary, chief of staff, and spokesperson for the Department of Education under Duterte, is expected to provide testimony on the disbursement of funds during her tenure as education secretary.

The prosecution is presenting evidence under Article I of the impeachment complaint, which alleges the misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds. This includes P500 million allocated to the Office of the Vice President in December 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023, and P112.5 million allocated to DepEd in 2023. Poa's testimony is seen as pivotal because of his direct involvement in DepEd's response to Commission on Audit findings regarding these funds.

Prosecutors have tagged Poa as a "central figure" in the proceedings. Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V stated that the prosecution team is prepared for any outcome, including the...