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., This news data comes from:http://aichuwei.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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
- Cyclone's trough, habagat will bring cloudy skies, rain showers over PH
- WBO champ looms as Pacquiao’s next opponent
- Israeli strikes in Yemen's capital kill six, Houthis say
- A suicide bombing near a political rally in southwestern Pakistan kills 13 and wounds 30
- Israel military says controls 40 percent of Gaza City
- Islamic State claims deadly attack on Pakistan rally
- Marcos orders 'sweeping review' of DPWH budget under 2026 NEP
- Lacson to govt: Protect education budget
- Malabon shifts garbage disposal to Rizal landfill after Navotas closure
- Zelenskyy seeks talks with Trump and European leaders on slow progress of peace efforts with Russia
