The House prosecution panel on Monday dropped former Department of Education (DepEd) special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial after doctors advised him to undergo another 30 days of recovery from a stroke.
Private prosecutor Rey Robles informed the Senate impeachment court that the prosecution was dispensing with Fajarda’s testimony following the latest medical assessment, which was also confirmed by Senate doctors.
“In view of the latest medical update and the confirmation by the doctors of the Senate, as a humanitarian consideration, we are going to dispense with the testimony,” Robles said.
Presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero subsequently ordered the recall of the subpoena previously issued to Fajarda.
“Having withdrawn the request for subpoena for Mr. Edward Fajarda, the presiding officer hereby orders the recall of the subpoena issued to him,” Escudero said.
Escudero said Fajarda, through his counsel, submitted a letter and medical certificate indicating that he would need another 30 days to recover and recuperate from the stroke he suffered about a month ago.
The medical certification was attested to and confirmed by the Senate’s Medical and Dental Bureau, he added.
Fajarda had figured prominently in the prosecution’s presentation of Duterte’s alleged irregular use and liquidation of confidential funds at DepEd, where she served as secretary from 2022 to 2024.
His earlier testimony was expected to cover the handling and turnover of confidential funds and acknowledgment receipts that have been repeatedly raised during the trial.
Following the withdrawal, House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas asked the court to continue the presentation of the prosecution’s remaining witnesses on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Luistro said Police Maj. Jovelyn Magay, lawyer Sunshine Fajarda and Commission on Audit employee Bresildo Sabaldan are next in line to testify.
Fajarda May Still Testify
House prosecution panel adviser and spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers said Fajarda could still find himself before the Senate impeachment court even after the prosecution rests its case on the article because the senator-judges or Duterte’s own lawyers are free to seek his testimony in the future.
“But nothing prohibits him from being called by the impeachment court or the defense to present Mr. Fajarda. Very material, also, and I believe that his testimonies would be vital in these allegations of misuse and misappropriation and regular liquidation of the confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and the DepEd secretary, while VP Sara was the secretary,” Barbers said.
The prosecution is seeking to complete Article I this week before deciding whether to proceed with the bribery allegation or move directly to the unexplained wealth charge against Duterte. (With a report from Zaldy De Layola/PNA)