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., This news data comes from:http://vx-aub-hvu-gvf.xs888999.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.
- PH Defense chief slammed for 'bad mouthing' China
- 'Lannie' exits PH — Pagasa
- NBI slaps Alice Guo, 35 Others with new graft, misconduct cases
- No winner in Ultra, Megalotto draws for Sept 5
- Russian drone, missile attack kills 14, injured 48 in Kyiv
- Malabon shifts garbage disposal to Rizal landfill after Navotas closure
- Thai woman jailed for 43 years for lese majeste freed
- DSWD program reduced hunger
- Marcos names Dizon as DPWH secretary
- Lacson: DPWH exec sought ‘insertions’
