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://www.052298.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.
- IBP to form good governance panel
- Head of main US health agency abruptly dismissed
- No Filipino affected in Israeli attack on Hamas in Qatar — PH Embassy in Doha
- Senators Estrada and Villanueva deny getting kickbacks after former engineer tags them in House hearing
- Heavy rain causes flooding, landslides and 8 deaths in Vietnam and Thailand
- London arms show opens under Israel cloud
- ‘Large shark’ kills man off Sydney beach
- Public Works Chief Vince Dizon demands courtesy resignations to 'clean house'
- Alice Guo faces new cases over POGO land
- Ukraine's children start new school year in underground classrooms to avoid Russian bombs
