MANILA, Philippines — Senate Secretary Renato Bantug said Friday that Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp asked the Senate if it could bring its own equipment and hire its own caterer for its holding area during the impeachment trial, adding that the requests are part of the usual administrative and logistical arrangements for both parties.
Bantug said the prosecution panel also hired its own caterer and brought its own equipment. He added that similar requests were made by both panels during a previous impeachment trial.
Speaking to reporters, Bantug said Office of the Vice President Chief of Staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez raised the requests during her visit to the Senate.
He said Lopez first asked about the number of seats assigned to the defense panel. Bantug said the Senate had allotted 45 seats, consistent with its earlier communication to the defense.
Bantug said Lopez also asked if the defense could bring equipment, including a refrigerator and a coffee maker, to its holding area. He said the Senate approved the request. He added that Lopez also asked if the defense could hire its own caterer, and the Senate granted the request.
In a message to the Inquirer, the Office of the Vice President said the requested equipment and catering services were intended for everyone assigned to the defense area, including members of the media covering the proceedings.
Lopez’s visit drew attention because it came a day after the Senate impeachment court granted the House prosecution panel’s request to subpoena her as one of its witnesses.
Bantug said the meeting had been scheduled two days earlier and dealt only with administrative and logistical matters. He added that discussing the subpoena during the meeting “would not be proper.”
Earlier Friday, impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol said the Senate had prepared a holding room for Duterte should she decide to attend the impeachment proceedings in person.
Tongol said the Senate set aside the holding room in recognition of the office held by the vice president.
Duterte faces impeachment over allegations that include unexplained wealth, bribery, misuse of confidential funds, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Duterte briefly visited the Senate on July 7 to meet with members of her defense team before leaving ahead of the session.