Poa Disavows Liquidation of DepEd Funds

Poa says Duterte did not order AFP certifications, declines to assess legality of confidential fund use

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer September 03, 2026 MANILA — Former Department of Education undersecretary Michael Poa testified that Vice President Sara Duterte did not instruct him to obtain […]

Poa doesn’t know where cash went

FORMER Department of Education (DepEd) undersecretary Michael Wesley Poa on Wednesday testified that he reported directly to then-Education secretary Sara Duterte, received her instructions on department operations and sought her guidance before media interviews but had no firsthand knowledge of how the agency’s confidential funds were used.Poa, now a member of the vice president’s defense team, took the witness stand as a hostile prosecution wi…

Poa disavows liquidation of DepEd funds

Although he signed the Department of Education’s replies to a state audit on confidential funds, lawyer Michael Poa, Vice President Sara Duterte’s second-in-command at DepEd, yesterday washed his hands of the matter, pointing responsibility instead to a former special disbursing officer who is currently unavailable due to a medical condition.

Poa maintains no involvement in DepEd confidential funds during Sara Duterte's term

Atty. Michael Poa on Wednesday maintained that he had nothing to do with the confidential funds of the Department of Education (DepEd), despite serving as the agency"s chief of staff and undersecretary while Vice President Sara Duterte was Education secretary.

Poa: No COA moves to revisit cleared DepEd confidential funds so far

The Commission on Audit has not reopened any probe into the confidential fund expenses of the Department of Education for the first two quarters of 2023 under V

Poa prepared DepEd reply to COA but unaware security officer handled confi funds

Former DepEd official Michael Poa confirms that he only learned that there was a security officer involved in handling the agency's confidential funds when it was brought up at a House hearing in 2024