The decision to appoint an independent spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment defense team ultimately rests on her approval, according to Atty. Michael Poa, who emphasized that the proposal must be discussed with his client first.
Poa, who serves as the spokesperson for the defense panel, addressed the media on Wednesday, July 22, following the ninth day of Senate impeachment proceedings.
He expressed appreciation for the suggestion made by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the presiding officer of the impeachment court, but made it clear that he could not make the call independently.
“Something that I will have to consult the client about. I’ll have to consult the vice president if that is something that she will be amenable to,” Poa said.
He mentioned that Escudero acknowledged the defense panel’s careful handling of media interviews over the course of the proceedings.
Balancing duties as both a trial lawyer and the primary defense spokesperson has proven challenging, Poa admitted, noting that the dual responsibilities demand substantial effort and time.
“It’s very difficult for me because it’s quite time-consuming to do the legal work. Wala na kaming weekends. But aside from that, I also have to accommodate interviews because it’s also very important na maintindihan ng mga kababayan natin kung ano yung nagaganap sa impeachment court on a day-to-day basis,” he said.
Poa explained that bringing in another spokesperson would help free up his schedule, allowing him to concentrate primarily on legal strategy or public communications, depending on the Vice President’s preference.
Nevertheless, he highlighted potential logistical hurdles, such as ensuring the new representative has established media rapport and stays thoroughly updated on the legal panel’s internal deliberations.
“The tricky part talaga is kung may spokesperson na hindi part ng legal team per se… you will also have to manage and brief the spokesperson on what’s going on and what he or she can say and cannot say,” Poa explained.
Should Vice President Duterte agree to the proposal, Poa assured that the defense team would formally present the new spokesperson to the press.
The defense panel continues its representation as the Senate impeachment court transitions to the next phase following the conclusion of the prosecution’s evidence presentation regarding Article IV of the complaint.