Poa Faces Scrutiny Over Department of Education's Secret Funds

During the ongoing impeachment trial, Michael Poa, spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte, is under scrutiny regarding the Department of Education's (DepEd) P112.5 million in confidential funds. As the trial enters its ninth week, prosecutors are examining the financial records related to the alleged misuse of these funds.

An Army officer, who played a role in organizing the military's Youth Leadership Summit, indicated that he was unaware that the certifications he issued for the event would be used by DepEd to liquidate millions of pesos in confidential funds. This raises concerns about the accountability and transparency surrounding the usage of the funds, now linked to the previous leadership in the department.

Representative Antonio Tinio from the ACT Teachers party-list voiced concerns about the significant portion of the Office of the President's proposed budget allocated to secret funds. Specifically, he criticized the proposed allocation of P10.1 billion, nearly half of which is classified as secret, pushing for clearer transparency rules.

House lawmakers, however, swiftly ended the debate on the proposed budget, voting 37-5, which left questions regarding the rationale behind allowing nearly half of the president’s budget to remain undisclosed. This lack of further questioning has spurred frustration among some members of the committee.

The prosecution has raised queries specifically about why Poa was selected by Vice President Duterte to address concerns regarding the DepEd's confidential funds if he reportedly had no direct knowledge of how the money was handled or spent. This issue could undermine the credibility of the defense team's arguments as the trial progresses.

As the trial continues, the interplay between the testimonies of various witnesses, including Poa and the Army officer, may significantly influence perceptions of accountability within the DepEd and the Office of the President.