MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Wesley Michael Poa on Tuesday told the House of Representatives’ Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability that he was no longer with the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
“We had a discussion prior to the previous hearing. It was really a mutual decision, Your Honor,” Poa said in mixed Filipino and English in response to a question from Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun.
Poa said that he told Vice President Sara Duterte that he did not think he was capable of really fulfilling his contract—which was until December 2024—as spokesman.
He said that “it’s really [that] hindi ko ma-fulfill, ‘no, iyong trabaho ko. Hindi ako makapagpa-interview, hindi dahil sa ayaw ko pero I think it would be inappropriate. For example, if I’m asked about the proceedings, I would rather answer… here rather than in the media, especially if it’s a comment by a member of the committee, I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment through the media.” Last August 19, the OVP announced that Poa would serve as its spokesman effective immediately.
Prior to that, Poa resigned from the Department of Education (DepEd) effective July 19 to give then incoming secretary Sonny Angara “a free hand to choose the people that will form part of his team”.
In June 2024, Duterte resigned from the Cabinet as DepEd secretary effective July 19.
Poa served as former undersecretary and spokesman of the DepEd before his resignation from the department.
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