LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial, Sept. 2, 2026

Former Department of Education chief of staff Michael Poa is scheduled to take the witness stand as the House prosecution panel continues presenting evidence in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Poa, who is also part of Duterte’s defense counsel, is expected to testify about the Education Department’s use of confidential funds during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary from 2022 to 2024. The funds included 112.5 million pesos in disbursements, with 15 million pesos reportedly used to help finance Armed Forces of the Philippines Youth Leadership Summits.

Poa cannot formally be designated a hostile witness until the prosecution presents him and he takes the stand before the impeachment court. His testimony is scheduled to be followed by that of Philippine Statistics Authority Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande.

In remarks to media before the hearing, Poa said, “I will basically be narrating what I know.” The proceedings form part of Inquirer’s special coverage of the impeachment trial’s 21st day.

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I will basically be narrating what I know.