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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Sagot niyo caterer?': Senate might be insulted by VP Sara camp's request, says Garin

'Sagot niyo caterer?': Senate might be insulted by VP Sara camp's request, says Garin

Published Jul 23, 2026 12:59 pm  |  Updated Jul 23, 2026 02:12 pm

At A Glance

  • Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin criticized the defense camp's request for the Senate to shoulder catering costs during Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, calling it improper.
  • She said the justification of food security concerns was insulting to the Senate, stressing that no reasonable person would believe poisoning inside the chamber was possible.
  • Garin suggested that expenses should be charged to the Vice President's office, as Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian estimated the trial could last seven to eight months.
Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team (Facebook)
Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team (Facebook)


Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin says the Senate might find as "insulting" the request of Vice President Sara Duterte's camp for the upper chamber to shoulder the catering cost of her impeachment trial defense team.
In particular, the House deputy speaker took issue with the reported reason as to why the defense panel wanted its own caterer at the Senate in the first place.
This was supposedly due to security concerns with their food as the trial went on.
“So 'yung isa lang kasi doon, 'yung pagdududahan mo ang Senado na baka mamaya may lason 'yung ipapakain sa mga tao, medyo maiinsulto ang ating Senado diyan,” Garin said in a press conference after the impeachment hearing Wednesday, July 22.
(So the one thing there, when you cast doubt on the Senate that maybe the food being served to people is poisoned, that would be quite insulting to our Senate.)
Garin, a former Department of Health (DOH) secretary, reckoned that no reasonable person would believe an attempt to poison guests inside the Senate of all places would be possible.
Earlier this month, Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez went to the Senate to formally request that the defense be allowed to bring its own equipment, including a refrigerator and coffee maker, and hire its own caterer during the course of the impeachment trial.
As for the reported request for the Senate to foot the bill for the food provider, Garin gave a more logical suggestion.
“I find it highly improper kasi may opisina rin naman ang ating Pangalawang Pangulo, and they can actually charge all those expenses to their office,” Garin said.
(I find it highly improper because our Vice President also has an office, and they can actually charge all those expenses to their office.)
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian earlier estimated that the impeachment trial could last seven to eight months. It began last July 6.

Related Tags

Impeachment Senate Janette Garin OVP Sara Duterte Catering Caterer
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