House prosecution opposes Senate-paid catering for Sara Duterte defense team

The House prosecution panel on Wednesday opposed a supposed request from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the Senate to shoulder the catering expenses for Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team and staff during her impeachment trial. "I find it highly improper because our Vice President has her own office, and they can actually charge all those expenses to their office," House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said at a press briefing. Garin, however, said the House prosecution panel respects the defense team’s right to request its own catering arrangements, while noting that the prosecution had made no similar request to the Senate. "We made no such request because, traditionally, during Senate proceedings, when there is a meeting and snacks are served, those are accepted," she said. "But we did not request for the Senate to shoulder the prosecution’s expenses," she added. In a letter dated July 7, the OVP supposedly asked Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian to approve the catering arrangements for her defense team, support staff, and witnesses throughout the impeachment trial. GMA has yet to get confirmation of the letter request from the OVP and will update this story once a response is received. The request supposedly includes having food and beverages served exclusively in their designated holding area and prepared and served by an accredited caterer of the OVP. Duterte also asked the Senate to shoulder the “reasonable costs” of the arrangements, saying they are required solely in connection with the impeachment proceedings. “These requests are necessary to safeguard the safety and well-being of the defense team, support staff, and witnesses, ensure their full and effective participation, and support the orderly and uninterrupted conduct of the proceedings,” the letter read. “We trust that the Senate will recognize the necessity of these arrangements and approve their implementation for the entire duration of the trial,” it added. Duterte is facing impeachment charges over allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes. In May, she was impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time. Defense lawyer Michael Poa, for his part, said he was not privy to the letter, noting that the defense team had no participation in making the request. "So perhaps the question is best directed to the OVP because we were not part of the discussions," Poa added. Senator-judge Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirmed the existence of the letter, according to a report by dzBB Super Radyo’s Nimfa Ravelo. "I cannot support this for one simple reason: items 2 and 3 may be violative of the government procurement law," Lacson told GMA News. "The Senate has our own caterer who went through the regular bidding process. This letter not only is asking the Senate to use only the OVP caterer but also pay for their services. This is the dangerous and highly questionable part. We can't justify the use of Senate funds to pay another agency's caterer," Lacson added.— MCG, GMA News