Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: Hostile Witness Declared Over P112.5M Confidential Funds

MANILA, Philippines — Michael Poa, former chief of staff for the Department of Education, was declared a hostile witness by the prosecution during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The focus of the proceedings is the P112.5 million in confidential funds spent during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary. Poa, now part of Duterte’s defense team, was deemed hostile by the prosecution on Day 21 of the trial after his testimony before the Senate impeachment court reportedly deviated from previous statements or showed apparent memory lapses regarding the disbursement of the confidential funds. The declaration allows the prosecution to cross-examine Poa, potentially challenging his credibility and eliciting further details about the fund's utilization. The use of confidential funds by public officials has been a recurring point of contention in Philippine governance, often raising questions about transparency and accountability. The substantial amount allocated to the Department of Education under Duterte's leadership has drawn significant public attention. This development in the impeachment trial underscores the ongoing scrutiny of how public funds are managed and disbursed in the Philippines, a nation where transparency in government spending remains a critical issue. Information source: Inquirer NewsInfo