Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783925582897Screen Shot 2026-07-13 at 6.53.47 AM.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Michael Poa speaks to the media to provide an update on what transpired during the pre-trial conference for the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines on June 18, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte clarified Monday that it did not confer with the prosecution team when it tried to gIve them a copy of documents and its memoranda subpoenaed by the court.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/live-updates-vice-president-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-day-4-1358">LIVE UPDATES: Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s Impeachment Trial (Day 4)</a></div><p>Michael Poa confirmed to members of the media during his press conference before the fourth day of the impeachment trial that the defense was just trying to ask the prosecution to receive a copy of its comment and memorandum that will also be submitted to the impeachment court.</p><p>Poa said July 13 is the deadline for the defense and the prosecution to submit their respective comments on the subpoenaed documents that include BIR and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) documents.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/impeachment-court-summons-nbi-agents-sends-back-bir-box-1818">Impeachment court summons NBI agents, sends back BIR box</a></div><p>According to Poa, this is also part of the defense&#x27;s preparation for the scheduled oral arguments on Wednesday, July 15.  </p><p>“Hindi naman nag-confer, we’re trying to have the prosecution receive yung comment, memorandum. If you remember, last week na-take-up yung request for issuance of subpoena duces tecum for certain documents, AMLC records and also yung BIR records. So we were given by the impeachment court until today - today is the deadline to file our comment, memorandum, I think both parties, in preparation for the oral arguments on Wednesday,” Poa told reporters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/-a-threat-is-a-threat-what-to-expect-on-day-4-of-vp-sara-impeachment-trial-0754">&#x27;A threat is a threat&#x27;: What to expect on day 4 of VP Sara impeachment trial</a></div><p>He also clarified that the defense just wanted a fair play and decided to give a copy of its comment to the prosecution team.</p><p>“Fair play lang yan, kung ano yung pina-file natin sa impeachment court, dapat may kopya din naman yung ating opposing in the interest of fairness. Nasa rules naman po yan, we will now file it before the impeachment court,” Poa explained.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WILL DUTERTE ATTEND?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Poa was also asked if the Vice President will be present at the Senate during her trial.</p><p>“Right now, I know she’s in Davao… Wala pa siyang nababanggit sa akin. Totally, wala pang nababanggit so ibig sabihin non - if she comes here, I also don’t know if it&#x27;s only for a meeting or to attend the trial itself,&quot; Poa said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Poa said the defense team considers the chief-of-staff of Duterte, Zuleika Lopez, as an ordinary witness.</p><p>“Sa ngayon, regular witness pa lang siya. Under our rules, hindi po kasi automatic yan na porque’t… Let&#x27;s say kaibigan ka nung kabilang panig, or nagtatrabaho ka sa kabilang panig eh hostile ka na. That is something that the prosecution will have to work on in their presentation. They will have to have the witness qualified as the hostile witness. Don pa lang nila sa presentation at ma-establish sa korte na hostile witness siya,” Poa told reporters.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mqv21tA1Tb8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sN6g1jHiX_A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPGAXK-K1Ns?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte clarified Monday that it did not confer with the prosecution team when it tried to gIve them a copy of documents and its memoranda subpoenaed by the court.</p>

The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte clarified Monday that it did not confer with the prosecution team when it tried to gIve them a copy of documents and its memoranda subpoenaed by the court.

Poa cites 'fair play' in trying to give prosecution copy of their court submission

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Poa cites 'fair play' in trying to give prosecution copy of their court submission

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 13, 2026 02:59 PM PHT

Read More:

Michael Poa

Defense team

prosecution team

sara duterte

impeachment

impeachment trial

sara duterte impeachment trial

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