Poa denies report VP Sara Duterte wants to talk to Marcos, says it's 'fake news'

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense spokesperson Michael Poa on Monday denied reports that the vice president wants to speak with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Poa dismissed the report as fake news when asked about the claim, during a break in the impeachment trial of Duterte.

“Fake news. Parang ’yung binato ako ng laptop o kung ano man, it’s also fake news. So, fake news po ’yan,” Poa said in an ambush interview with GMA News’ senior reporter Ian Cruz.

(Like the report that I was hit or struck with a laptop or something, that is also fake news. So, that is fake news.)

The statement came amid ongoing proceedings in the impeachment trial of Duterte, where her defense team has been representing her before the Senate impeachment court.

Poa did not provide further details about the report or elaborate on whether Duterte had any plans to meet with Marcos.

Malacañang on Monday last week said it could not confirm reports that Duterte had allegedly sought a “private meeting” with Marcos.

“Wala po tayong makukumpirma patungkol diyan dahil wala namang binababa sa ating anumang impormasyon kung mayroon ngang ganyang kaganapan. Sa ngayon, wala tayong makukumpirma,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing.

(We cannot confirm anything regarding that because no information has been passed down to us on whether such an event actually took place. As of now, we have nothing to confirm.)

Poa's denial meanwhile also comes after he previously rejected another claim involving Duterte, specifically a report that she had thrown a laptop at him. That allegation was likewise described as fake news.

Duterte herself, in an interview in The Hague, denied reports that she threw a laptop at Poa. —KG, GMA News