Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA— The prosecution panel is set to present two Armed Forces of the Philippines officials as the next witnesses in the impeachment trial, following the testimony of hostile witness Lemuel Ortonio from the Office of the Vice President.The three officials are Col. Manaros Boransing II and Col. Magtanggol Panopio whose testimony is expected to shed light on allegations involving the supposed misuse of confidential funds allocated to the Department of Education. Edward Fajarda, the former special disbursing officer of the Department of Education, would be unable to attend the trial because of health reasons.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/24/alleged-marcos-duterte-talks-is-fake-news-poa-1228">Alleged talks between Marcos, Duterte is ‘fake news’ — Poa </a> </div>The AFP said it would cooperate with the proceedings and support the three officers in fulfilling their role as witnesses.“The AFP has been assuring the Filipino public that whatever assistance the Armed Forces of the Philippines can provide, we have been very cooperative and supportive of that. These three officers have appeared before, and we are going to allow them and support them in performing their mandate to shed light on these questions,” said AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla. Meanwhile, the prosecution is also set to present Atty. Michael Poa as a hostile witness. Poa is a defense counsel and spokesperson for the defense.Poa previously testified before the House Committee on Good Government in 2024, where he was questioned about the Department of Education’s confidential funds. According to House prosecution panel spokesperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Poa’s role as assistant chief of staff at the Department of Education makes his testimony significant to the case.“Si Atty Michael Poa was the assistant chief of staff sa Department of Education so mahalaga ang kanyang role, mahalagang matanong sya kung ano ang naging role niya sa paggamit at paggastos ng confidential fund na nakalaan sa Department of Education,&quot; Barbers said in mixed English and Filipino. The prosecution expects Poa’s testimony to be consistent with statements he previously made before the House and said he should not deviate from his earlier declarations.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/23/poa-duterte-has-never-been-violent-1152">‘She’s never been violent’: Poa says Duterte is not ‘what she is being portrayed as’</a></div>Poa was asked by ABS-CBN News for comment but had yet to respond.The prosecution panel also reiterated that they are not keen on putting Col. Dante Lachica on the witness stand. However, Barbers said they remain open to presenting him as a witness if his testimony could provide additional evidentiary value or support the allegations.“Hindi sarado ang aming isipan na iprisenta si Col. Lachica, kung naniniwala kami na mayroon pang kakulangan, o kinakialangan pa madagdagan ng evidentiary value o pwede sumuporta sa allegations, bakit hindi? In fact nakalista sya,&quot; Barbers said. The impeachment trial will resume on Tuesday, September 1, as Monday, August 31, is a holiday.<div> </div>

The prosecution panel is set to present two Armed Forces of the Philippines officials as the next witnesses in the impeachment trial, following the testimony of hostile witness Lemuel Ortonio from the Office of the Vice President.

The prosecution panel is set to present two Armed Forces of the Philippines officials as the next witnesses in the impeachment trial, following the testimony of hostile witness Lemuel Ortonio from the Office of the Vice President.

Poa, AFP officials to testify next in impeachment trial

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Poa, AFP officials to testify next in impeachment trial

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 29, 2026 06:13 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

Michael Poa

AFP

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