A witness for the prosecution in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte will now testify before the Senate Impeachment Court on Sept. 7 after a medical emergency forced a delay.
Edward Fajarda, a former special disbursing officer at the Department of Education, had been slated to take the stand Aug. 25. That appearance was called off once the court was notified through a medical certificate that Fajarda had suffered a stroke.
The document, dated Aug. 20, carried a physician’s recommendation that he rest for two weeks. Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro noted that the recovery window closes Sept. 3, a Thursday, prompting the prosecution to set the following Monday as the new date. “With respect to the advice of the physician to take a rest for the period of two weeks—we understand that the medical certificate was issued on Aug. 20 and two weeks will end on Sept. 3 and that is a Thursday; therefore we would like to make a reservation on Sept. 7, for the presentation of Edward Fajarda still as part of the prosecution’s witnesses,” Luistro said. She also asked for a certified copy of the certificate.
Presiding Officer Francis Escudero ordered the head of the Senate’s Medical and Dental Bureau to independently assess Fajarda, confirm the medical findings, and report back to the court, including whether the witness would be fit to testify at all this week. “And if he indeed will be unable to testify this week, and when he can at all testify,” Escudero said.
Another prosecution witness, Office of the Vice President assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio, remains on track to appear Aug. 25. Ortonio had earlier sought to be excused from the Aug. 17 to 19 hearings because his psychologist licensure examination fell on those dates, but that exam was later rescheduled to Sept. 1 and 2 due to bad weather.
Escudero confirmed that a subpoena had been served requiring Ortonio’s attendance. “A subpoena has been issued to him to attend today and tomorrow’s hearing, so we expect Mr. Ortonyo to be here tomorrow as a witness of the prosecution, and we note and appreciate the manifestation of Mr. Ortonyo regarding the postponement of his exams,” Escudero said.
