Poa: VP Sara not attending impeachment hearing

Vice President Sara Duterte will not be attending the House justice panel committee impeachment proceedings against her on Tuesday, her counsel Atty. Michael Poa said.

“I don’t think so,” Poa said as he was asked if Duterte or any of her representatives will attend today’s House justice panel proceedings.

“I think they already told the committee beforehand that they will not be attending,” he explained. 

Ramil Madriaga, who identified himself as a former aide of Duterte, arrived at the House of Representatives on earlier to testify in her impeachment proceedings. He is expected to face the House Committee on Justice after a subpoena was issued to him for clarifications in connection with the impeachment hearing against Duterte. 

READ: Who is Ramil Madriaga?

The two impeachment complaints against the Vice President accuse her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, among others, mainly over the following acts: 

• Alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and using them as bribes 
• Allegedly threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family.
• Alleged accumulation of unexplained wealth

Poa attended the hearing in compliance with the subpoena issued to him by the House justice panel since he is also a former spokesperson of the Vice President and Education Undersecretary during Duterte's tenure as Education chief. 

Back in October 2024, Poa testified before the House good government and public accountability panel inquiry on the disbursement of P15 million of its confidential funds.

Poa confirmed that he asked then DepEd Undersecretary and retired Major General Nolasco Mempin to ask for certifications from military units to back up OVP’s spending of the P15 million confidential funds for informants in 2023. —VAL, GMA News