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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Michael Poa has a lot more to say about DepEd confidential funds--House officials

Michael Poa has a lot more to say about DepEd confidential funds--House officials

Published Aug 28, 2026 10:39 pm

At A Glance

  • Lawmakers said Michael Poa could reveal more details on the alleged misuse of P112.5 million in DepEd confidential funds.
  • They said Poa's former role gave him access to key documents and fund-related matters.
  • The prosecution said it had prepared for Poa's testimony in the impeachment trial.
Lawyer Michael Poa (Facebook)
Lawyer Michael Poa (Facebook)


Ranking congressmen believe lawyer Michael Poa can still reveal a lot of key details on the Department of Education's (DepEd) confidential fund use even after his 2024 House panel testimony.
House impeachment adviser Robert Ace Barbers and Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V had this to say as they look forward to Poa's testimony next week in Vice President Sara Duterte's Senate impeachment trial.
Poa served as DepEd chief-of-staff and spokesperson during Vice President Duterte's tenure as education secretary. He is now part of Duterte’s defense team and serves as its spokesperson.
The House prosecution plans to call him as a hostile witness in connection with the alleged misuse of ₱112.5 million in DepEd confidential funds.
“Yung ating nasaksihan doon sa Committee on Good Government hearing, hindi pa siya yung complete, yung buong dapat itanong kay Attorney Michael Poa,” Barbers said Friday, Aug. 28 during an online press conference.
(What we witnessed at the Committee on Good Government hearing was not yet complete, not all of the questions that should be asked of Attorney Michael Poa.)
Barbers said Poa’s former position placed him close to documents and official responses that the senator-judges need to understand. “Gaya ni Ortonio, marami ring dokumentong dumadaan sa kanya na sinusuri nila at maaaring pinipirmahan nila. That must be made clear before the senator-judges."
(Like Ortonio, many documents also pass through him that they review and may sign.)
He was referring to Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Chief-of-Staff Lemuel Ortonio, the previous hostile witness presented by the prosecution.
Ortega noted that Poa’s earlier House appearance came shortly after he resigned from DepEd, which limited the time available for questions.
But the impeachment court now offers the proper forum for a fuller examination.
“Nasa forum na siya ng impeachment court. Mas marami pong information at mas marami pong liwanag ang ma-shed niya sa mga topics na marami pong katanungan,” Ortega said.
(He is now in the forum of the impeachment court. He can provide more information and shed more light on the topics that have raised many questions.)
Official House accounts show Poa was involved in DepEd’s response to an Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) concerning confidential funds. He also had a role in obtaining and submitting military certifications used in that response.
Two military officers, retired colonels Manaros Boransing II and Magtangol Panopio, previously told a House inquiry that they did not know the certifications would be used to support DepEd’s confidential fund liquidation.
Barbers said Poa’s legal training and senior role make his advice and actions relevant to the fund’s implementation.
“Yung paggamit nila nung pondong iyan, na confidential and intelligence fund na bihirang-bihirang ibigay sa DepEd secretary, tama ba ang pagkakagastos?” he asked.
(The use of that fund, which is a confidential and intelligence fund that is very rarely given to a DepEd secretary, was it spent properly?)
He said the impeachment court must establish what Poa reviewed, what he signed, what he knew about the documents, and what advice he gave to officials implementing the fund.
“Maraming tanong na dapat masagot, kaya I’m sure pinaghandaan ng prosecution iyan,” Barbers said.
(There are many questions that need to be answered, so I’m sure the prosecution has prepared for that.)
The twice-impeached Duterte served as DepEd chief from 2022 to 2024.

Related Tags

impeachment Sara Duterte Michael Poa Robert Ace Barbers Paolo Ortega DepEd confidential funds
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