MANILA, Philippines — The Senate majority bloc has turned down the request of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the chamber to shoulder food, beverage, and catering expenses for the defense team, witnesses, and support staff during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
"The majority agreed that it would not be proper for the Senate to foot the bill for their catering," Sen. Erwin Tulfo said Thursday, noting that each party participating in the proceedings is expected to cover their own operational and administrative expenses.
Speaking to reporters, Tulfo said that members of the majority agreed that public funds should not be utilized to cover private catering arrangements for a respondent’s legal team, particularly when standard administrative protocols and resources are already in place within the upper chamber.
A letter sent by the OVP addressed to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian requested that all meals and beverages served to Duterte’s team and witnesses be prepared exclusively by the OVP’s accredited caterer and served inside their designated holding room, citing "legitimate security concerns."
"The requested measures 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 OVP said in the letter.
The senators noted that while safety protocols and holding areas are provided to ensure the trial moves forward without disruption, funding private meals for defense counsel goes beyond the Senate's mandated administrative obligations as an impeachment court.
