00:00The issue of a possible conflict of interest for defense lawyer Michael Poa is brought up during the 13th day
00:06of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial on Wednesday, August 5.
00:10Senator Judge Rafi Tulfo asks if there is a possible conflict of interest on the part of Poa as a
00:16former DepEd Undersecretary.
00:17On August 4, a witness said Poa was in the meeting between the Commission on Audit, the Office of the
00:22Vice President, and the Department of Education regarding confidential funds in 2023.
00:27Presiding Officer Cheez Escudero says there is no conflict of interest since Poa is only a counsel and the respondent
00:33to the impeachment case is not him but Vice President Sara Duterte.
00:37Private Prosecutor Lorna Capunan agrees with the presiding officer's ruling.
00:41He is here acting in his capacity as lawyer.
00:44Meantime, law expert Maria Lulureyes says in a Rappler panel interview that Poa does have a conflict of interest.
00:50He placed himself in a position where he'll be required to testify as Chief of Staff and Undersecretary for Finance
01:02of the DepEd at the time when the Vice President was its secretary.
01:08Reyes says Poa had intimate knowledge of how the confidential funds were used.
01:12By making himself counsel of the Vice President, I think he's representing interest that is contrary to that of the
01:19Republic.
01:19If he is asked to testify on knowledge during the time that he was Undersecretary for Finance regarding the use
01:30of the confidential funds,
01:31he can simply escape and evade those answers by saying,
01:35I will not answer because it will breach attorney-client privilege.
01:39Reyes notes Poa, quote, appears to be kinder than the previous defense lawyers.
01:43We're so easily impressed by someone who does not reflect the brutish character of their client.
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