Erwin Tulfo thumbs down Sara Duterte catering request: Why would we pay for that? 

Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Erwin Tulfo expressed his disapproval of Vice President Sara Duterte’s reported request for the Senate to foot the bill for her caterer of choice at the impeachment trial being held in the Senate.

In an interview with reporters on Thursday, Tulfo said that majority senators had asked “Ba’t namin sasagutin (Why would we pay for that)?”

“Saan natin kukunin ‘yung bayad sa pagkain? Tapos sila pa mamimili sa catering,” Tulfo told reporters.

(Where would we get the payment for the food? Then they will pick the catering service too?)

Based on the majority’s caucus the night prior, Tulfo said that senators questioned where the budget for the catering will come from.

The Senate would have to answer to the Commission on Audit, he added.

Tulfo deferred the confirmation of the Senate’s response to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. GMA News Online has reached out to Gatchalian and will update the story once he responds.

Gatchalian later told reporters that with the Senate gearing up for budget deliberations, there were no funds to grant Duterte's request.

In a letter dated July 7, Duterte had requested Gatchalian’s approval for catering arrangements for her defense team and the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) staff. The letter included a request for having food and drinks served in their designated holding area.

Duterte also asked the Senate to foot the bill for the caterer.

Sen. Ping Lacson, who initially confirmed the letter, said that he disagreed with the request because it would violate procurement laws.

GMA News Online has also reached out to the OVP to get a statement and will update the story once the office responds. —RF, GMA News