Poa says he could face liability if Duterte convicted of fund misuse

Michael Poa, who served as Vice President Sara Duterte's chief of staff and held positions as undersecretary for finance and spokesperson at the Department of Education, conceded Wednesday that potential liability could extend to him if Duterte is convicted of misusing millions of pesos in confidential departmental funds.

During his testimony, Poa acknowledged the possible legal exposure while continuing to assert that he had no personal knowledge of alleged fund misappropriations. His comments came as investigations into the handling of the DepEd's confidential funds have intensified, with authorities examining how discretionary allocations were managed during Duterte's tenure as education secretary.

The admission marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of the Vice President's financial management at the education department. Poa's role in overseeing various administrative functions has placed him in a position where accountability concerns could arise depending on investigation findings and legal determinations.

Authorities have been examining records and conducting interviews as part of their inquiry into the alleged misuse of confidential funds. The scope of potential liability for those in positions of responsibility during the period in question remains under legal consideration.