Sen. Panfilo Lacson has verified that the Office of the Vice President asked the Senate to cover catering costs during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, confirming the authenticity of a July 7 letter when reached by reporters through text message.
The senator added that a later communication from the OVP appears to have altered the original request, though not to the point of withdrawing it.
“Although, I should say that apparently there is a follow-up letter modifying it, but not expressly requesting to disregard the letter that you showed me,” Lacson said.
Senators have yet to take up the matter in caucus. Even so, Lacson made clear he cannot back the request, saying the second and third items in the letter “may be violative of the government procurement law.”
His objection centers on the chamber’s existing arrangements. The Senate already contracts a caterer chosen through standard bidding, and the OVP letter sought both to restrict service to its own accredited provider and to have the Senate pay for it.
“This is the highly questionable and irregular part. We cannot justify the use of Senate funds to pay another agency’s caterer,” the lawmaker observed.
Addressed to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, the document asked the chamber to absorb what it called “reasonable costs” of food, beverages and catering for the defense team, support staff and witnesses. Security considerations were cited as grounds for confining meals to the designated holding room and having them sourced, prepared and served exclusively by the OVP’s caterer. The arrangement was framed as necessary to protect the safety and well-being of those involved and to ensure their full participation in the proceedings.
Michael Poa, defense counsel and spokesperson, distanced the legal team from the correspondence during a press briefing, saying its members had no hand in preparing it.
“Well, I can confirm that no such arrangement is being allowed, as far as I know,” Poa said when asked whether the Senate would shoulder the costs.
On the meals reaching the defense panel, he was noncommittal: “It’s okay, but I don’t know. I don’t think it’s being supplied by the Senate.”
Impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol declined to weigh in, describing the question as “outside my pay grade.”
Whether the Senate formally acted on the requests could not be established as of posting.
The logistics discussions predate the letter. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug disclosed on July 10 that Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, had inquired about the camp bringing its own equipment and hiring a caterer for its holding area. Bantug characterized the inquiry as unremarkable, noting the prosecution had made similar arrangements. The OVP separately told the Inquirer that day that the equipment and catering were intended for everyone and for coverage purposes.
Duterte faces impeachment over allegations that she amassed unexplained wealth, accepted bribes, misused confidential funds, and made grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
