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Atty. Michael Poa testifies as a hostile witness during the 21st day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Poa, who previously served as a Department of Education official and spokesperson for Duterte’s defense team, was called to the stand regarding the disbursement of confidential funds during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Marilyn Cahatol

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/178831591347020260817-senate-impeachment-defense-michael-poa-SPRIB11.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Atty. Michael Poa during the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, August 17, 2026. Senate PRIB </span></span></span></div><p><strong>MANILA (UPDATE) </strong>— The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday declared lawyer Michael Poa, former Department of Education assistant chief of staff and Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense counsel, a “hostile witness”.</p><p>This allows the prosecution to ask the witness leading questions.</p><p>Before this, prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. offered that Poa was “one of the vice president’s most trusted men.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial">Impeachment Trial of Sara Duterte</a></div><p>He said Duterte tapped Poa to answer the Commission on Audit’s questions on the OVP and DepEd’s use of confidential funds, despite him testifying before a House committee that he knew nothing about how the funds were spent. </p><p>“Sa kabila noon, siya ang inatasan ng bise presidente na sumagot sa COA. Hindi ang SDO (special disbursing officer), hindi ang nag-disburse ng pera, ang abogadong walang alam,” Tolosa said. </p><p>Former OVP’s SDO Gina Acosta earlier testified that she disbursed the office’s confidential funds to Army Col. Raymund Lachica, who she said executed and documented all the OVP’s confidential operations. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/only-vp-duterte-ex-security-head-lachica-knew-how-confidential-funds-were-spent-witness-1319">Only VP Duterte, ex-security head Lachica knew how confidential funds were spent — witness</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>‘ABOGADONG WALANG ALAM’ </strong></div><div> </div><p>Defense lead counsel Sheila Sison moved to strike from the records the prosecution’s phrase “abogadong walang alam”, saying it was improper to use toward a fellow lawyer. </p><p>“I don’t think to include in the offer a statement that said ‘ang abogadong walang alam’ is proper whether here or outside the court, whether we are trying an impeachment case or whether we are just talking to one another as fellow members of the bar,” Sison said. </p><p>Sison stressed that Poa, as a witness, has the right to be protected from “irrelevant, improper and insulting questions” as well as “harsh or insulting demeanor.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/2/live-updates-vice-president-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-day-21-0941">LIVE UPDATES: Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s Impeachment Trial (Day 21)</a></div><p>Tolosa, meanwhile, explained that the phrase pertained to Poa’s testimony at the House of Representatives that he knew nothing about the use and liquidation of the confidential funds. </p><p>“If I offended you in any way, sir, I’m very sorry for that. That’s not my intention,” Tolosa told Poa. </p><p>Sison said that based on his explanation, Tolosa could have used more respectful words, such as “the witness has no personal knowledge.”</p><p>Trial presiding officer Francis Escudero ruled to strike the phrase “abogadong walang alam” from the records. </p><p>“The chair finds it discourteous to say the least and this then should not be used in relation to a fellow lawyer, especially,” he said. </p><p>Before Poa was declared a hostile witness, Sison acknowledged that the defense counsel-turned-witness “will not provide on a plate the prosecution’s theory and conclusions.”</p><p>Poa takes the witness stand as the court hears Duterte&#x27;s alleged misuse of confidential funds.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/1/witness-says-his-certification-won-t-suffice-for-confi-funds-liquidation-1632">Witness says his certification &#x27;won&#x27;t suffice&#x27; for confi funds liquidation </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/1/cayetano-clarifies-prosecution-s-stance-on-vp-duterte-s-use-of-confidential-funds-1514">&#x27;Irregularity or fraud?&#x27;: Cayetano clarifies prosecution&#x27;s stance on VP Duterte’s use of confidential funds </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/1/alias-a-fictitious-fake-name-unless-a-real-person-is-behind-it-sotto-1445">Alias a &#x27;fictitious, fake name&#x27; unless a real person is behind it — Sotto</a></div><div><strong>WATCH:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kAw5o2fgZgM?si=XL904z3BjU5YCBYz" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday declared Atty. Michael Poa, former Department of Education assistant chief of staff and Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense counsel, a “hostile witness”.</p>

The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday declared Atty. Michael Poa, former Department of Education assistant chief of staff and Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense counsel, a “hostile witness”.

Impeachment court declares Poa a ‘hostile witness’

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Impeachment court declares Poa a ‘hostile witness’

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 02, 2026 10:26 AM PHT

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Updated September 02, 2026 11:54 AM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Michael Poa

hostile witness

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