THE Office of the Vice President (OVP) spokesperson, Michael Poa, has confirmed that he is no longer affiliated with the OVP.
This announcement follows his recent testimony before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which is investigating the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds within offices under Vice President Sara Duterte’s leadership.
“I would like to inform the Honorable Committee that I am no longer connected with the Office of the Vice President. Hindi na po ako … Yung consultancy contract ko po was already pre-terminated, Your Honor,” said Poa when asked by Blue Ribbon panel chair Manila Rep. Joel Chua if he is still connected to the OVP.
Earlier, Poa made his statements before the House panel where he confirmed that VP Duterte and former Department of Education (DepEd) Senior Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda held sole authority over DepEd’s confidential funds.
The revelation came as a surprise to committee members, as Poa testified on the structure of authority governing the use of these confidential funds, which have been a focal point of legislative scrutiny and public concern.
His testimony revealed that only Duterte and Fajarda had direct control over these funds, a disclosure that has raised questions about the transparency and accountability mechanisms in place within the DepEd regarding large confidential allocations.
In explaining his present status, Poa stated before the committee that his contract with the OVP had been terminated.
Poa was also asked if some of the OVP officials and previous DepEd officers of VP Duterte being subpoenaed by the committee are still connected to the OVP.
“Your Honor, when I was still there, yes, they were connected with the OVP. Although as of today, hindi ko na po talaga masabi factually if they are still connected or not. I would assume, because of the position paper with the letterhead, that they’re still connected,” Poa stated.
“But I cannot confirm that because nagpaalam po ako na umalis prior pa po to the previous hearing that we had,” he added.
These officials include OVP chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, Lemuel Ortonio, Atty. Rosalynne Sanchez, Julieta Villadelrey, Gina Acosta, Atty. Sunshine Fajarda and Edward Fajarda.
Poa had previously outlined to the committee that, as a spokesperson, he was responsible for addressing media queries but had no involvement in the decision-making processes around confidential fund disbursements.
His statements drew attention to the concentration of authority around sensitive financial resources, underscoring the need for broader oversight to prevent potential misuse.
Poa’s testimony has underscored the challenges of ensuring accountability for confidential funds within government departments.
The structure he described, with CIF (confidential and intelligence funds) control concentrated among a small circle, has sparked renewed discussions on the necessity of checks and balances within government to prevent fund misappropriation or misuse.
His disclosures have added to the public’s calls for legislative action to increase transparency, particularly around CIFs used by high-ranking officials and sensitive departments.
The OVP has yet to release a formal statement regarding Poa’s removal, but legislators have noted the significance of the timing, particularly given the sensitive nature of his revelations.
