Manila, Sept. 2 -- Vice President Sara Duterte's defense counsel Michael Wesley Poa on Wednesday confirmed that she ordered the transfer of PHP112.5 million in confidential funds of the Department of Education (DepEd) to the agency's chief security officer.

Poa, as a prosecution hostile witness, made the statement during questioning by private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa.

Tolosa questioned the witness about the testimony of then DepEd special disbursement officer (SDO) Edward Fajarda in the hearing at the House of Representatives on the alleged misuse of confidential funds in November 2024.

Reading from the transcript of stenographic notes, Tolosa recalled that House Deputy Speaker Jayjay Suarez of Quezon asked Fajarda who gave the aut...