MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson said an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) called up one lawmaker to make early insertions in the proposed national budget for 2026.
The senator on Sunday said a caller claiming to be "Undersecretary Cabral" from DPWH called up a staff member of Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III shortly after the May 2025 senatorial elections.
"One 'Undersecretary Cabral' called Sotto's staff and told them to insert what they wanted to insert [in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026]," Lacson said in a radio interview.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson, This news data comes from:http://fx-sq-bd-wd.gyglfs.com
"If Sen. Sotto was one of those called by that executive, who else could have been contacted similarly and submitted their proposed insertions?" he said in Filipino.
"Senator Sotto told me he did not submit anything because we are advocating transparency and good governance. The question now is, how many members of the House and Senate made insertions?" Lacson added.
- Thai opposition's kingmaking summit fails to back new PM
- Tourists dice with danger on Hanoi's train street
- Washington makes military aid overtures to Sahel juntas
- Israeli forces seize nearly 0,000 in West Bank raid
- Private groups back DHSUD chief's anti-corruption policy
- Vatican puts Pope Francis' ecological preaching into practice with vocational farm center
- Comelec defers BARMM district reconstitution
- Pagasa: Rainy Monday over Visayas, Luzon areas due to LPA, 'habagat'
- Former president Duterte's health stable despite high blood sugar, says VP Sara
- Lacson to Marcoleta: I don’t want a fight but I won’t back down from one
