TWO SARA IMPEACHMENT LAWYERS SHOULD BE WITNESSES INSTEAD - RIDON

REP. Terry Ridon (PL, Bicol Saro) on Wednesday raised a potential case of conflict of interest in the inclusion of lawyers Michael Poa and Reynold Munsayac in the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte in the impeachment hearings of the House Committee on Justice.

- BY WENDELL VIGILIA Reporter

Ridon said both Poa and Munsayac, who are part of Duterte’s staff, had direct involvement in the issues hounding her use of confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), which she used to head as education secretary.

“If the impeachment proceedings determine that Mr. Poa or Mr. Munsayachave material knowledge relevant to the charges, the proper course would be for them to testify as witnesses rather than serve as counsel,” he said.

The two impeachment complaints against the Vice President are anchored on her alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and the rapid encashment of P125 million in December 2022, which was allegedly liquidated within 11 days, and the subsequent findings of the Commission on Audit (COA), which later issued notices of suspension and disallowance covering P73.287 million in expenditures.

The first complaint was filed by a group of priests, nurses and lawyers led by Fr. Joel Saballa and endorsed by Rep. Leila de Lima (PL, ML) last February 9.

The last complaint was filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera last February 18, which was endorsed by Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.