Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyer and former DepEd Chief of Staff, Atty. Michael Poa, said he will abide by the subpoena issued against him by the House Committee on Justice.

In a press conference following the suspension of the committee’s hearing on the impeachment proceedings against Duterte, Poa said he is willing to attend.

"I will wait for the subpoena. Titingnan ko kung ano yung laman ng subpoena, but definitely I’m willing to attend. Wala akong any intention to evade," said the lawyer.

He also addressed claims made in the House that he was in charge of the DepEd’s accomplishment reports from 2022 to 2024.

"I was a bit surprised because I think the grounds stated there was that I was the one in charge of the accomplishment reports etc., which obviously the facts and documents would show that it was not me," he said.

"Nonetheless, I don’t see any point in not appealing, so I would definitely abide by the subpoena, subject to, of course," he added.

Poa also noted that they will first review other subpoenas issued to ensure they are in line with the law.

Atty. Shiela Sison, also a legal counsel of the Vice President questioned the jurisdiction of the committee to conduct any form of trial.

"If you had noticed in the letter, we have stated that it is not only the conduct of the trial but also the exercise," Sison added.

The House Committee on Justice earlier approved the motion filed by Rep. Antonio Tinio to issue a subpoena ad testificandum to Poa, who served as Chief of Staff of the DepEd from 2022 to 2024.

The motion was approved with 34 votes in favor, 3 against, and 0 abstentions.