MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Michael Wesley Poa temporarily stepped aside as spokesman of Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team and was now staying in the holding room for subpoenaed witnesses ahead of his expected testimony in the impeachment trial.
Lawyer Justin Nicol Gular, who served as the defense spokesman on Tuesday, said Poa was no longer staying in the defense holding room after the prosecution confirmed that it would present him as a witness.
“Attorney Michael Poa is no longer, as of the moment, and just for now considering that he will be presented as a witness, is not actually staying in the defense holding room,” Gular told reporters after the 20th day of the impeachment trial.
Gular said Poa was instead staying in a separate holding room for regular witnesses in the Senate, as the defense seeks to respect the proceedings and avoid concerns over possible witness tampering.
He said he last spoke with Poa “last week,” when they were still sitting together with the defense panel, adding that they had no communication after Poa was disclosed as a possible witness.
Gular said the move was not permanent, with the defense still considering who could serve as its spokesman while Poa was on the witness stand.
He also declined to speculate on whether Duterte herself would speak publicly despite the Senate’s reminder on the sub judice rule, saying the defense respects the impeachment court’s directives.
On whether Poa would deliver a surprising testimony, Gular said the public would have to wait for the proceedings, noting that it would be the prosecution presenting Poa on direct examination.
