MANILA, Philippines — Itinuturing ng mga mambabatas na “central figure” sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte ang kanyang defense counsel na si Michael Poa, dahil dati siyang spokesperson ni Duterte sa Department of Education (DepEd).
Nakatakdang tumestigo si Poa bilang prosecution witness sa pagdinig ng Senado tungkol sa umano’y maling paggamit ng confidential funds sa DepEd at Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Sa imbestigasyon ng House committee noong 2024, sinabi ni DepEd Undersecretary Nolasco Mempin na si Poa ang humiling ng military certifications na ginamit ng DepEd sa pagsagot sa audit findings ng Commission on Audit (COA).
Ayon kay House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V, mahalaga ang testimonya ni Poa dahil may mga pahayag siya noong 2024 hearing na kailangan pang linawin.
“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… 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,” ani Ortega.
“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,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi rin ni Ortega na maaaring mas mahalaga ang testimonya ni Poa kaysa kay Col. Raymund Lachica, dating security officer ni Duterte na sinasabing kumuha ng confidential funds para sa mga aktibidad na iniutos ng bise presidente.
“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,” ani Ortega.
Binigyang-diin din ni Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante ang naging papel ni Poa bilang empleyado ni Duterte. Kinuwestiyon niya ang naunang pahayag ni Poa na hindi niya alam kung paano ginamit ang confidential funds sa 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,” ani Abante.
“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… Let’s say he didn’t accept, but let him not lie that he didn’t know what’s going on,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi naman ni Poa na “ready” siyang tumestigo at hindi niya planong gamitin ang attorney-client privilege maliban kung kinakailangan. Ayon kay Ortega, handa ang prosecution kung sakaling gamitin ni Poa ang naturang privilege.
“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,” ani Ortega. RNT/MDS
