Impeachment court to still summon ex-DepEd SDO Fajarda after reported stroke

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero said Tuesday that a new subpoena will be issued to former Department of Education (DepEd) special disbursing officer (SDO) Edward Fajarda once he finishes his required bed rest after reportedly suffering a stroke.

On the 18th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Escudero said that he received a report from the director of the Senate Medical and Dental Bureau regarding the health condition of Fajarda.

“[Dr. Sison’s report is] confirming the condition of Mr. Fajarda that he is recommended to have bed rest or to rest for two weeks, which began last August 20, and which shall end on September 3,” Escudero said.

The presiding officer thus instructed the clerk of court to issue the corresponding subpoena and compel Fajarda to attend the subsequent trial date, which is on September 7, 2026, at 10 a.m.

On Monday, Escudero announced that the impeachment court received a letter and medical certificate from Fajarda’s lawyer asking that he be allowed to skip the hearings on August 24 to 26, after supposedly suffering a stroke on the lower back side of his brain.

Before acting on Fajarda’s request, Escudero directed the head of the Senate Medical and Dental Bureau to examine the prospective witness, validate the medical findings with his physicians, and submit a report on the matter.

The impeachment court previously issued a subpoena to Fajarda to testify on Article 1 of the Articles of Impeachment, which pertains to the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds by Duterte—P500 million from the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million from the DepEd. —AOL, GMA News