Members of the Senate majority have rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s request for the Senate to shoulder the catering expenses for her defense team, support staff, and witnesses during her impeachment trial, Senator Erwin Tulfo said.
Tulfo said the majority reached the decision during a mini-caucus, although he clarified that the final determination rests with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.
“How are we going to answer to the Commission on Audit (COA) about that? We’ll be asked about it,” Tulfo told reporters.
He said senators questioned how such an expense could be justified, noting that the Senate would have to explain the funding source, especially since the Office of the Vice President (OVP) had specified its preferred catering provider.
“We discussed it last night during the majority’s mini-caucus, and the decision of the majority was: Why should we be the ones to answer for it? How do we explain that? Where are we going to get the money to pay for the food? And on top of that, they’re the ones choosing the caterer,” Tulfo said.
According to Tulfo, meals for OVP personnel are not covered by the Senate’s budget, and approving the request could expose the chamber to audit issues involving budget allocations.
In a July 7 letter addressed to Senate President Gatchalian, Duterte requested that the Senate “shoulder the reasonable costs of food and beverage and catering services for the defense team, support staff, and witnesses.”
The Vice President also asked that all food and beverages be “sourced, prepared, and served exclusively by the OVP’s accredited caterer,” citing security and quality assurance considerations.
Duterte’s impeachment trial is scheduled to span 92 trial days over allegations that include unexplained wealth, bribery, misuse of confidential funds, and grave threats. As of Thursday, only nine trial days have been completed since proceedings began on July 6.
