Michael Poa out as VP Sara's spokesperson

Lawyer Michael Poa said Tuesday he is no longer the spokesperson of Vice President Sara Duterte since his consultancy contract has already been terminated,

Poa made the disclosure during the House good government and public accountability inquiry on the Vice President's budget use, including the confidential funds.

"I would like to inform the honorable committee that I am no longer connected with the Office of the Vice President (OVP)," Poa said.

"My consultancy contract was already pre-terminated," he added.

Prior to his OVP stint, Poa also served as undersecretary and spokesperson of the Department of Education when Vice President Duterte was still its secretary.

When the Vice President resigned as Education chief, Poa also resigned from DepEd and transferred to the OVP.

During the previous congressional inquiry, Poa told lawmakers that he tasked 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. 

He insisted he did it in good faith since COA was asking the OVP to respond to an audit observation memorandum (AOM) that questioned the spending.

The soldiers who provided certifications to the OVP later confirmed they did not know that it will be used to justify the OVP's budget.

Poa, however, said there is no bad blood between him and Vice President Duterte.

“It was a mutual decision. I cannot fulfill the obligations of my contract as a spokesperson, and I found it very difficult to face the media and I am also part of the hearing as a resource person,” Poa said.

“We mutually decided to pre-terminate the contract. I was very forthright. I would like to think she (Vice President) really understood,” Poa added. — AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News