Faced with health issues, former DepEd disbursing officer not likely to take witness stand in VP trial

Former Department of Education (DepEd) special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda is unlikely to take the witness stand in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, after doctors advised him to take an additional 30 days of medical rest, a House prosecutor revealed Monday.

Lead prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua told reporters that the prosecution learned of Fajarda’s updated condition through an internal Viber broadcast.

Fajarda—a key prosecution witness—was scheduled to testify on the alleged mishandling of confidential funds during Duterte’s tenure as DepEd secretary.

“Unfortunately, kahapon kasi nakita ko sa Viber group namin, yung medical bulletin na inissue kay Edward Fajarda kung saan inaadvise siya na another 30 days na pagpapahinga.

With that, imposible na masalang namin siya today,” Chua said.

(“Unfortunately, I saw the medical bulletin issued for Edward Fajarda in our Viber group yesterday advising another 30 days of rest. With that, it’s impossible for us to present him today.”)

Fajarda managed DepEd’s special disbursements when ₱112.5 million in confidential funds were released during the first three quarters of 2023. He suffered a stroke shortly before his scheduled court appearance.

To avoid endangering Fajarda’s health, the prosecution is pivoting toward proposing formal stipulations based on his prior sworn testimony.

This strategy would allow the impeachment court to admit Fajarda’s earlier statements into evidence without requiring his physical appearance.

During a 2024 inquiry by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, Fajarda testified that he personally handed over DepEd’s confidential funds to Duterte’s security officer, Col. Dennis Nolasco.

That transfer drew sharp criticism from the Commission on Audit (COA), which noted that statutory authority to disburse confidential funds is restricted strictly to the designated special disbursing officer and the head of the agency.

With Fajarda sidelined, the prosecution intends to rely on his historical testimony and seek its admission via joint stipulation as it continues presenting its case. -Paraluman News