‘Fajarda remains trial witness despite medical condition’

Senator-judges pray before the start of the impeachment trial on Aug. 26, 2026. (Courtesy: Senate of the Philippines/Screenshot)

Former Department of Education Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda remains on the prosecution’s witness list in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte despite a medical condition that forced the postponement of his testimony.

House trial spokesperson and impeachment adviser Ace Barbers confirmed that Fajarda is expected to testify as prosecutors move into the P112.5-million Department of Education confidential fund component of Article I of the impeachment case.

“We had expected Mr. Fajarda, as the DepEd special disbursing officer, to testify. However, he has a medical condition, and his doctor advised him to rest. This was independently verified by the Senate Impeachment Court’s medical personnel,” Barbers said.

Fajarda was originally scheduled to testify earlier this month, but the impeachment court postponed his appearance after his medical condition was validated and he was given two weeks to recuperate.

Barbers said Fajarda is now expected to appear on Sept. 7 or 8, although he was not certain of the exact date.

Fajarda is among the witnesses expected to explain the handling of confidential funds while Duterte was education secretary. He previously appeared before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability during its 2024 inquiry into confidential fund spending.

Barbers also named former DepEd official and defense lawyer Michael Wesley Poa among the prosecution witnesses lined up for the DepEd portion of Article I.

“In fact, Mr. Fajarda and Atty. Michael Poa, who are current or former DepEd employees, are among the witnesses we have lined up,” he said.

The prosecution has also obtained subpoenas for military officers expected to testify about the Youth Leadership Summit cited in connection with the liquidation of DepEd confidential funds.

Barbers said several witnesses remain available under Article I, although prosecutors continue to assess whether each witness is necessary to complete the evidentiary record. — Maricel V. Cruz