Former Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Michael Wesley Poa testified Wednesday that he reported directly to then-Education Secretary Sara Duterte, received her instructions on department operations, and sought her guidance before media interviews despite allegedly having no firsthand knowledge of how the agency’s confidential funds were operationally used.

Poa took the witness stand as a hostile prosecution witness on Day 21 of Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. questioned him about the authority he exercised and his working relationship with Duterte while serving as DepEd spokesperson, undersecretary, chief of staff, officer-in-charge for finance, and head of the procuring entity.

Defense counsel Shiela Sison earlier acknowledged Poa’s standing within the department.

“I can stipulate, Your Honor, that he is trusted and that he is good at what he does,” Sison told the impeachment court.

Poa began as DepEd spokesperson in July 2022. By April 2023, he was undersecretary and chief of staff. He subsequently served briefly as officer-in-charge of the finance office and later as head of the procuring entity.

Poa explained that although President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. formally appointed him undersecretary, his appointment came through Duterte.

“Sir, it was the President who appointed me as Undersecretary, as you know. But of course, upon the recommendation of the Secretary, then it was the Vice President,” Poa said.

When Tolosa asked whether he had a direct reporting relationship with Duterte, Poa answered: “Yes, I do.”

Poa likewise confirmed that his position gave him direct access to Duterte without having to pass through other department officials.

He also testified that as chief of staff, he gave Duterte updates and received her instructions on matters affecting DepEd’s operations.

The relationship extended to Poa’s work as spokesperson.

Poa described Duterte’s input as “guidance,” rather than instructions; but he confirmed a statement he made at a previous congressional hearing, in which he described consulting her before interviews.

“When there’s news, and I need to get to an interview, honestly, I have to message the Vice President at that time to find out every time what she wants me to say during the interview,” the earlier statement read.

Poa confirmed in court that those were his words.

The prosecution contrasted Poa’s access, authority and institutional role with his repeated position that he had no operational knowledge of the confidential funds.

“I don’t have personal knowledge in the operations of DepEd. So, I’m answering based on my understanding, based on what I’ve read when I was trying to study,” Poa said while discussing his interpretation of confidential-fund requirements.

He likewise confirmed that his involvement in the confidential-fund issue began only after DepEd received an Audit Observation Memorandum from the Commission on Audit.

Poa had not signed the original liquidation reports submitted for the funds, and identified former special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda, Duterte as head of agency, and an accountant as among those who signed the records.

For the prosecution, Poa’s testimony highlights how a senior official entrusted with speaking for Duterte and helping manage DepEd remained outside the operational handling of the money until state auditors demanded further proof.

Duterte led DepEd when the agency received and used PHP112.5 million in confidential funds in 2023 and signed the corresponding liquidation reports as the agency’s head, according to Poa’s testimony.

The prosecution said Duterte must now explain who exercised control, what safeguards she imposed, and how the public money was actually used. (PNA)