Day 21 Wednesday, September 2, 2026
The Senate impeachment court declared former Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary and Vice Presidential spokesperson Michael Poa a hostile witness for the prosecution.
Under examination, Poa testified that not a single peso from DepEd's ₱112.5-million confidential funds went to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for Youth Leadership Summits in 2023. He also admitted he only learned that confidential funds were handed over to Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group officials during a House hearing in October 2024, rather than while working inside DepEd.
The court chided prosecution counsel Atty. Tolosa for engaging in heated exchanges with defense lead counsel Atty. Sheila Sison, who had dismissed the prosecution's 13-point testimony offer as "rhetoric aimed at providing drama".
Prosecution leaders disclosed that they were considering dropping the bribery article against VP Duterte to streamline trial efficiency, similar to the strategy used in former Chief Justice Renato Corona's trial.
