Michael T. Poa
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Michael Wesley T. Poa | |
|---|---|
| File:DepEd Undersecretary Michael T. Poa.jpg Michael Poa DepEd Undersecretary (2022) | |
| Defense Spokesperson and Co-Counsel for Vice President Sara Duterte | |
| Assumed office March 3, 2026 | |
| Undersecretary and Chief of Staff of the Department of Education | |
| In office May 2023 – June 19, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Epimaco Densing III |
| Succeeded by | Atty. Trygve Olaivar |
| Spokesperson of the Department of Education | |
| In office July 26, 2022 – June 19, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Asec. Nepomuceno Malaluan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Wesley T. Poa |
| Education | Ateneo de Manila University |
| Occupation | Lawyer, corporate litigator, government official |
| Profession | Bar admission: 2011 (Roll No. 59385) |
| Awards | Career Executive Service Eligible (CESE) |
Michael Wesley T. Poa is a Filipino lawyer, corporate litigator, and former government administrator.[1][2][3] He serves as a co-legal counsel and the official defense spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial before the Senate of the Philippines.[4][5] Poa previously held prominent administrative roles in the Department of Education (DepEd) and served as a consultant for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).[6]
Legal credentials and credibility
Poa is a law graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University Law School, and was admitted to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in 2011.[7] His expertise spanned corporate governance, public sector advice and commercial dispute resolution.
Before public policy, Poa was senior trial counsel with a law firm in private practice and legal adviser to public organizations, gaining more knowledge in schemes for administrative accountability and methods of managing the state budget process. The ability to gain eligibility for the standard Career Executive Service Ranking, a basis for appointment to more responsible jobs in the senior technical hierarchy of the civil service in the Philippines, led him also to obtain the standard title CESE – Career Executive Service Eligible – which made it easier to be considered for senior technical jobs.
Service under Vice President Sara Duterte
On July 26, 2022, vice president and simultaneously, the Secretary of Education, Sara Duterte, designated Poa as the official spokesperson for the Department of Education.[8] By May 2023, he became Undersecretary and Chief of Staff of the said department, oversaw the day-to-day operations and staff personnel as well as programmatic supervision, and addressed policy amendments such as the delisting of the K-to-12 multi-year spiral curriculum and the launch of MATATAG curriculum in the curriculum. After Duterte effectively resigned from Cabinet service on June 19, 2025, Poa left his posts in the DepEd. Thereafter he was appointed as spokesperson of the Office of the Vice President on a contractual basis.
Impeachment defense counsel
On 3rd March 2026, Poa filed his entry of appearance as a co-counsel in a Supreme Court petition relating to the constitutionality of the cases filed against the Vice President. Upon initiation of the trial, he changed character for the active litigation in the impeachment court in the Senate and to lead structural cross-Examinations and the management of state’s budget exhibits.[9]
Poa served as defense counsel in August 2026 during the evidentiary proceedings on the consolidation of liquidations and budget records for the OVP and DepEd.[10] When his due process rights were threatened by the vast volumes of financial documents submitted under Article I of the impeachment complaint, He was astute in motioning for the appropriate legal pauses to review those documents.[11][12] Additionally, Poa is responsible for the press relations, as the main defense spokesman, daily informing the journalists about changes in the Senate proceedings and explaining the stance of the defense on the testimony of certain witnesses.[13][14]
References
- ↑ "Our Lawyers – POA HIMALA & VIRTUCIO LAW OFFICES". Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ admin (2026-05-14). "Who Is Atty. Michael Poa? Biography, Career, and Public Service Profile". Filipino Vines. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ "Atty Michael Poa Biography: Early Life, Career, Personal Life". 2026-04-15. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ "Defense Team of VP Atty. Michael Poa face the media". Philippine News Agency. June 25, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Defense counsel Michael Poa on Tuesday stood by their position". GMA News Online. August 5, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Atty. Michael Poa Biography: Age, Career, Education, Wife & Net Worth". 2026-07-03. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ "List of Lawyers: P" (PDF). Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ Abarca, Charie Mae F. (July 26, 2022). "Michael Poa named as DepEd spokesperson". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ Magsambol, Bonz (2025-03-03). "Poa joins VP Sara Duterte's legal team for impeachment". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ "Defense team of VP Sarah, Atty. Michael Poa". Philippine News Agency. August 4, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "House of Representatives Press Releases: Proposed stipulations on common exhibits covered by OVP and DepEd records". House of Representatives of the Philippines. August 3, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Michael Poa in Congress Media". Congress of the Philippines. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ Ager, Maila (June 23, 2026). "Atty. Michael Poa, listed as defense team of VP Sarah". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Vice President Sara Duterte meets legal team at Senate as impeachment trial continues". Office of the Vice President of the Philippines. July 7, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
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