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

The House prosecution panel on Wednesday opposed a supposed request by the Office of Vice President Sara Duterte for catered meals for her defense lawyers and staff during the impeachment trial to be paid for by the Senate.

“I find it highly improper kasi may opisina din naman ang ating Pangalawang Pangulo and they can actually charge all those expenses to their office,” House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said at a press briefing.

(I find it highly improper because our Vice President has her own office, and they can actually charge all those expenses to their office.)

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.

“Wala kaming ganoong request because in the history of having Senate proceedings, usually naman kapag may meeting and if they serve snacks, then tinatanggap ‘yun,” she said.

(We made no such request because, traditionally, during Senate proceedings, when there is a meeting and snacks are served, those are accepted.)

“Pero requesting for the expenses of the prosecution, wala,” she added.

(But we did not request for the Senate to shoulder the prosecution’s expenses.)

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.

"I can confirm that, as far as I know, no such arrangement has been allowed. But I cannot dwell on the details because that was an OVP letter and the defense team had no participation in that letter," he said.

"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.

𝗜𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝗔 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗢?

Sen. Ping Lacson, kinumpirma na totoo ang sulat ni Vice Pres. Sara Duterte sa Senado na humihiling na sagutin ng Mataas na Kapulungan ang food and beverage ng kanyang defense team at bilhin lang sa Office of the Vice President… pic.twitter.com/PXIkLtrGZO

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 22, 2026

"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