Former Department of Education (DepEd) Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda has suffered a stroke and requested to be excused from testifying in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the Senate impeachment court announced Monday, August 24.
Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero said the court received a letter and medical certificate from Fajarda’s law firm stating that the former DepEd officer had suffered a stroke affecting the lower back portion of the brain.
According to the letter, Fajarda was initially confined in the intensive care unit (ICU) for observation and has since been transferred to a regular hospital room.
Fajarda was expected to take the witness stand after former Office of the Vice President Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, whose testimony has been a focus of the impeachment proceedings.
The defense sought to have Fajarda excused from testifying this week due to his medical condition.
Escudero said the court would not immediately grant the request without first independently validating Fajarda’s medical condition.
The Senate impeachment court directed the head of the Senate Medical and Dental Bureau, Dr. Sison, to examine Fajarda and coordinate with his attending physicians to validate the medical findings submitted to the court.
The medical bureau was also ordered to submit a report determining whether Fajarda would indeed be unable to testify during the week and, if possible, when he may be medically fit to appear before the impeachment court.
“Before we excuse him as requested, the court is instructing and directing the head of the Senate Medical and Dental Bureau, Dr. Sison, to examine the witness and validate the medical findings with his physicians,” Escudero said.
Fajarda’s condition could affect the schedule of the impeachment proceedings, as he is among the witnesses expected to provide testimony concerning the handling of confidential funds involving the Department of Education.
The Senate is currently hearing Article I of Duterte’s impeachment case, which alleges the misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
