By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The testimony of former Department of Education (DepEd) special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda before the Senate impeachment court has been reset to Sept. 7 after Senate doctors confirmed that he recently suffered a stroke and requires additional recovery time.
Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday directed the impeachment court clerk to issue a subpoena for Fajarda’s appearance on the next scheduled trial date after receiving a medical report from Senate Medical and Dental Bureau Director Dr. Renato Sison Jr.
Sison’s evaluation found Fajarda’s condition consistent with his reported stroke and noted neurological deficits requiring him to rest from Aug. 20 to Sept. 2 to minimize the risk of another stroke.
The Senate physician also recommended that Fajarda secure clearance from his attending neurologist before appearing before the impeachment court.
“In relation to the condition of Eduard Fajarda, I am in receipt of a report by Dr. Sison, the Bureau Director of the Medical and Dental Bureau of the Senate, confirming the condition of Mr. Edward Fajarda,” Escudero said.
Fajarda had been scheduled to testify this week as part of the House prosecution panel’s presentation of evidence in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte but sought to defer his appearance following his stroke.
Prosecutors had earlier tentatively set Sept. 7 for his testimony, coinciding with the expected completion of his recommended two-week recovery period.
Fajarda’s testimony is expected to focus on the use of confidential funds at DepEd during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary.
The defense has agreed to stipulate that Fajarda served as Duterte’s executive assistant and as special disbursing officer for DepEd confidential funds. It also accepted that he was tasked with the disbursement and liquidation of the PHP112.5 million confidential fund involved in the impeachment case.
The defense, however, declined to stipulate to other matters proposed by the prosecution, leaving those issues to be established through Fajarda’s testimony and other evidence.
With Fajarda temporarily sidelined, the prosecution proceeded Tuesday with its seventh witness for Article I, Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio.
Ortonio’s cross-examination by Duterte’s defense team is set to continue when the impeachment court resumes Wednesday at 10 a.m.
ia/xf
