Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team said Atty. Michael Poa has temporarily stepped aside as the team’s spokesperson as he is expected to testify in the impeachment proceedings.

“For the defense team, it is only proper that Atty. Poa, na isasalang sa (who will be presented to the) impeachment court, common etiquette and proper decorum dictate that we respect the impeachment court and he needs to, at the moment, step aside from serving as the Defense Team Spokesperson. Kaya ako, bilang deputy lang muna (That is why, for now, I will act only as deputy),” Defense team deputy spokesperson Atty. Justin Nicol Gular said in a press briefing on Tuesday, September 1.

Gular said the move was made to respect the impeachment court and preserve the integrity of the proceedings, noting that Poa is “on deck” to be presented as a witness by the prosecution.

“He is on deck. He will possibly be the witness. Out of respect of the impeachment proceeding and to ensure the integrity of the proceedings, we, Atty. Poa, saw it fit that hindi muna siyang magsasalita for the defense (deemed it appropriate for him not to speak for the defense for the meantime),” Gular said.

Gular said the defense team is currently considering who will take over the role permanently.

“The new spokesperson is still being considered and being talked about between the defense team and the client, the Vice President,” he said.

Gular added that once a decision is made, either Poa or Duterte herself will inform the media and the public.

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Gular also said the defense team has relayed to Duterte the impeachment court’s directives regarding the sub judice rule, which limits public statements that could affect matters under consideration in the proceedings.

“Yes, I would assume. This was mentioned by the Presiding Officer, and the defense team listens to the directives, suggestions of the impeachment court because we really respect the process,” Gular said.

He said Duterte was also expected to comply with the court’s directives.

“I think in one of the statements of Atty. Poa, she [Duterte] said she will try her best, of course, to comply with the directives of the impeachment court,” he said.

Gular stressed that the defense team, including Duterte, respects the sub judice rule and has been careful to comply with Rule 18 of the Senate Rules on Impeachment.

“I don’t want to engage in speculation. I also cannot speak for the Vice President herself, that’s her own decision,” he said.

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“But again, the defense team, including the Vice President, respects the ruling on the sub judice issue and, as you have seen, we have been very conscious in complying with that section, the Rule 18, of the Senate rules on impeachment,” he added.

According to Gular, statements concerning evidence presented during the trial—including those that characterize, describe, or assess the weight of evidence—fall under the restrictions of the sub judice rule.

Gular acknowledged that the public may interpret what happens during the impeachment trial since the proceedings are open to the public.

“The public is entitled to interpret what happened to the trial. Available ito sa (This is available to the) public and everyone, including the senator-judges, is entitled to interpret or consider that statement of the witness,” he said.

Gular also addressed comments from some members of the public who may find portions of the impeachment proceedings less engaging.

“I think the defense has to be clarified that we’re just doing our jobs and whatever the proceedings bring on a certain day, ginagawa lang po namin ang kailangan naming gawin (we’re just doing what we need to do),” Gular said.

He also rejected the idea that the defense deliberately tries to make the proceedings either dull or dramatic.

“It has never been our strategy to make the impeachment, you know, boring or, on the other hand, theatrical,” he said.

“We’re not thinking, for today, gawin nating (let’s make it) boring, bukas dapat gawin nating masaya (tomorrow, let’s make it happy). Wala pong ganoon,” he added.

Gular said he understood the public’s desire to remain engaged, particularly because the impeachment case involves a sitting vice president.

“I understand the sentiment coming from the public. Of course, the public, as much as possible, would want to have their attention on this proceeding as this is important,” he said.

But he urged the public to be patient and allow the impeachment process to take its course.

“Just be patient. Ganito talaga yung proseso (This is really how the process works). Minsan may mga araw na for others, gagamitin ko lang yung quote mo, ‘boring,’ minsan mainit (Sometimes there are days that, for others, I’ll just use your quote, ‘boring,’ sometimes it’s heated). This is part of a proceeding,” Gular said.

Gular also clarified that Poa is no longer staying in the defense holding room because he may be called as a witness.

“Atty. Poa is no longer, as of the moment, as for now, considering that he will be presented as a witness, actually staying in the defense holding room. He is staying in the holding room for the subpoenaed witnesses,” he said.

Gular said he last spoke with Poa the previous week and has not communicated with him since.

Asked whether the defense would cross-examine Poa if he takes the witness stand, Gular said the matter would depend on how the proceedings unfold.

“Antayin na lang natin (Let’s wait for it). Remember, it’s the prosecution who will be presenting him,” he said.

Gular ultimately appealed to the public to continue following the impeachment trial while allowing the proceedings to unfold according to established rules.

“To the public, given that this is an important constitutional proceeding, especially for the Vice President who is the accused, let’s just stay patient. Let’s listen and just observe the proceedings and understand as much as we can,” he said.

He also encouraged the public to listen to legal experts who are not bound by sub judice restrictions and to use their analysis when forming their own opinions.

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