Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team is now facing fresh questions over its media strategy after defense lawyer Michael Poa admitted he would rather remain inside the courtroom than serve as the camp’s public face, following a caution from Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
The development comes after Escudero urged both the prosecution and the defense to separate their courtroom lawyers from their media representatives, warning that attorneys actively handling the impeachment trial could risk violating the sub judice rule by publicly discussing issues that remain before the court.
Rather than dismissing the concern, Poa acknowledged that Escudero’s advice was legitimate, saying it should not be viewed as a political issue.
Still, his remarks also exposed an apparent dilemma within the Duterte camp: while recognizing the need for an independent spokesperson, the defense has yet to identify anyone capable of taking over the role.
If forced to make a choice, Poa said he would keep his position as one of Vice President Duterte’s legal counsels instead of continuing as spokesman.
He explained that his courtroom responsibilities take priority, noting that he has specific assignments as part of the legal defense team that he considers more important than handling media briefings.
The admission highlights what critics may view as another sign that the defense is still reorganizing its communications strategy in the middle of one of the country’s most closely watched impeachment proceedings.
Despite acknowledging the need for a separate spokesperson, Poa revealed that the team has not even begun formally searching for a replacement.
According to him, the selection ultimately depends on Vice President Duterte herself, who must be comfortable with whoever speaks on behalf of her defense before the media.
Until such a person is chosen, Poa said he will continue acting as the team’s spokesperson, saying it remains essential that someone regularly explains developments to the public.
He argued that the impeachment proceedings have become increasingly technical, making it necessary for someone to simplify legal issues for ordinary Filipinos following the trial.
Escudero’s recommendation was intended to minimize the risk of lawyers making public statements that could affect ongoing proceedings, a concern that now places additional pressure on both camps to rethink how they communicate outside the Senate impeachment court.
For the Duterte defense, however, the search for a new public face remains unresolved—raising questions about why, weeks into the historic impeachment trial, the camp still appears to be without a permanent communications plan while Poa continues to juggle both legal and media duties.