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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"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://gangzhifhm.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.
- Mexican drug lord faces life in prison after pleading guilty in US court
- Over 800 killed as quake rocks Afghanistan
- DHSUD chief cites accomplishments
- Taiwan: China illegally deploying oil rigs in its waters
- Vico encourages citizens on Heroes’ Day to be brave
- US appeals court blocks Trump's use of wartime law for deportations
- Alice Guo faces new cases over POGO land
- India's Modi seeks closer ties on Asia tour to offset US tariff fallout
- Peru’s ex-president Toledo gets a second sentence in the Odebrecht corruption scandal
- OVP ready to submit to lifestyle check if ordered, no word from Sara
