Duterte’s ex-spokesperson joins her legal team
After resigning last year from the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Michael Poa has returned to the side of Vice President Sara Duterte. This time, he will serve as one of the lawyers challenging the latter’s impeachment complaint at the Supreme Court.
Poa confirmed to the Inquirer that he was one of the lawyers who joined Duterte in filing a petition questioning the constitutionality of the impeachment complaint approved by the House Representatives before it went on recess last month.
At the height of the House’s investigation into the alleged anomalous use of confidential funds by the Vice President, including her stint as education secretary, Poa told lawmakers that he was no longer the spokesperson for the OVP because his consultancy contract had already expired.
“I stepped down as OVP spokesperson because I honestly did not think I was able to carry out my functions effectively then. In short, I was not able to do justice to the role I was given,” he told the Inquirer in a Viber message on Tuesday.
Poa has filed his entry of appearance as co-counsel in Duterte’s petition pending before the high tribunal.
Poa explained that his duty this time would be a “different matter altogether.”
“It was the result of the discussions I had with the Vice President and, in my view, the petition filed before the Supreme Court raises serious constitutional questions that need to be addressed,” Poa said.
Two weeks ago, Duterte initiated her first legal move against her impeachment by asking the Supreme Court to annul the impeachment complaint against her.
She wanted the high court to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the Senate from proceeding with her impeachment trial.
Read: Michael Poa is no longer OVP spokesman; his consultancy contract ended
