The House public accounts panel and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon have raised concerns over a potential conflict of interest, as two members of Vice President Sara Duterte's legal team in the ongoing impeachment proceedings could serve as witnesses in the handling of confidential funds. Ridon stated that including Michael Poa and Reynold Munsayac on the defense panel raises serious questions due to their direct involvement in issues surrounding the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
In Manila, the House public accounts panel and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon expressed concerns yesterday regarding a potential conflict of interest involving Vice President Sara Duterte's legal team in the ongoing impeachment proceedings. According to reports, two members of this team, Michael Poa and Reynold Munsayac, have been identified as possible witnesses in the examination of confidential funds handling.
Ridon stated in a release, 'If these lawyers possess firsthand knowledge of the transactions or decisions under scrutiny, they may eventually have to testify under oath.' Poa served as spokesperson for the Department of Education during Duterte's tenure as its chief, a period when the agency received hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds that later faced congressional review over their disbursement and liquidation. Meanwhile, Munsayac acted as spokesperson for the Vice President and as DepEd Assistant Secretary for Procurement.
Duterte's defense team is led by veteran counsel Sigfrid Fortun, supported by associates from the Fortun Narvasa and Salazar Law Office. No response from Duterte's camp to these concerns was mentioned in the report.
