Poa, AFP Witnesses To Testify On DepEd Funds Misuse

Three officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and defense lawyer Michael Poa are expected to testify on the alleged misuse of the Department of Education (DepEd)’s confidential funds next week. 

The prosecution panel said one of the witnesses, Col. Manaros Boransing II, will testify how an annual military event received no reward money or financial assistance from DepEd, even though the agency used the military activities in explaining its use of confidential funds.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, a spokesman for the panel, also said the prosecution intends to revisit certifications involving the AFP and the Youth Leadership Summit, after DepEd used the activities in explaining confidential fund expenditures questioned by state auditors.

During the House inquiry in 2024, military officers whose certifications were later used in DepEd’s response to Commission on Audit findings testified that the Youth Leadership Summits were funded by the military and participating local governments and that their units received no DepEd confidential funds for those activities.

Adiong said Boransing’s testimony will be weighed together with the audit records and other evidence for the appreciation of the Senate impeachment court. 

The testimony of Col. Magtangol Panopio will also focus on the issue, particularly on the AFP certification used by DepEd, even though the signatories previously said they did not know that purpose.

Prosecution adviser and spokesman Ace Barbers said the hearing should also protect the military’s institutional neutrality, as the officials’ testimonies will show whether military officers knowingly took part in the funding process or whether their signatures were used without a full explanation of the documents’ purpose. 

He said the certifications matter because they may have been used to answer an audit question and support a public fund liquidation.  

Meanwhile, Poa’s testimony could fill important gaps from his previous appearance before the House inquiry about the DepEd’s confidential funds, the prosecution said.

Poa served as DepEd chief of staff and spokesman while Vice President Sara Duterte was education secretary. He is now part of Duterte’s defense team and serves as defense spokesman. 

The House prosecution plans to call him as a hostile witness in connection with the alleged misuse of P112.5 million in DepEd confidential funds.

Barbers said Poa’s former position placed him close to documents and official responses that the senator-judges need to understand.