PHVice President Sara Duterte requested that the Senate cover the cost of meals for her legal team during her impeachment trial, prompting questions about potential procurement issues. Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon suggested that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) might be attempting to involve the Senate in a procurement process by requesting their own caterer, which would require the Senate to pay. Under the New Government Procurement Act, only entities lacking the capacity to handle procurement can engage external procurement agents. Duterte's letter explained that the meal arrangements were necessary for security reasons and that the Senate was being asked to bear the associated costs.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the Vice President's request and the opposing viewpoint from Rep. Terry Ridon without overtly favoring either side. It includes relevant legal provisions and explains the context of the situation without using biased language or selective sourcing.
