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[Updated August 5, 2026, 6:02 p.m.]
MANILA, Philippines — Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday questioned whether there was a conflict of interest in Atty. Michael Poa representing Vice President Sara Duterte as one of her defense lawyers before the Senate impeachment court.
Tulfo said this as he cited Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Roderick Wamil’s testimony on Tuesday where he claimed that Poa was among Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) officials who asked the commission to instead issue an “audit query” instead of an audit observation memorandum should there be any findings in their use of confidential funds.
“Isn’t that a conflict of interest for him to represent here now?” Tulfo said during the 13th day of the impeachment trial.
