Sara Duterte’s counsel Poa to testify before impeachment court

MANILA, Philippines — Defense counsel and spokesperson Michael Poa is set to trade the court’s lectern for the witness stand on Wednesday, Sept. 2, as he is set to testify in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Poa will face the Senate impeachment court to testify for the House prosecution panel on how the Department of Education (DepEd) disbursed its confidential funds during Duterte’s tenure as Education Secretary.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 24, 2026

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This as one of the witnesses set to be presented by the prosecution next week, Maj. Gen. Adonis Bajao, will no longer be called to testify by the panel.

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Poa will be called before the court along with Marizza Grande of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“In order to maximize the schedule that is given to us, for Sept. 1, that is next Wednesday, we would like to respectfully move for the issuance of a subpoena ad testificandum to Attorney Michael Wesley T. Poa, if the same should be necessary, as well as to Ms. Marizza B. Grande of the PSA,” Luistro said.

Presiding officer and Senator-judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero then ruled that should the prosecution’s two other witnesses for Tuesday, Sept. 1, also fail to appear, Poa will instead take the witness stand to save time for the court.

“Given that Atty. Poa is here, and more than willing to testify as intimated earlier, then we jump to Atty. Poa should the other two earlier witnesses fail to appear on Sept. 1,” said Escudero.

“Without need of issuing a subpoena to Atty. Poa, he is so informed in open court,” he added. /jpv