Senator Raffy Tulfo. Photo courtesy of Senate of the Philippines.
Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday questioned whether Atty. Michael Poa’s participation in Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense panel created a conflict of interest.
Tulfo raised the issue after former Commission on Audit-Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Office auditor Roderick Wamil testified that Poa had joined Office of the Vice President and Department of Education officials in a September 2023 meeting with COA.
Wamil said the officials asked whether the commission could issue an audit query instead of an Audit Observation Memorandum if deficiencies were found in the use of confidential funds.
Tulfo asked whether Poa’s previous involvement in the matter should prevent him from representing Duterte before the Senate impeachment court.
Presiding officer and senator-judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he saw no conflict because Duterte, not Poa, was the respondent in the case.
Escudero noted that Poa had served in the OVP and DepEd but was appearing in the trial solely as one of Duterte’s lawyers.
He added that Poa’s earlier role did not disqualify him from acting as counsel since he was not among those facing trial.
The exchange took place during the 13th day of Duterte’s impeachment proceedings.