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.
"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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson, This news data comes from:http://qb-fhg-fy-fntp.gyglfs.com
"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.
- NKorea could produce ten to twenty nukes per year — SKorea leader
- Russian drone, missile attack kills 14, injured 48 in Kyiv
- NBI slaps Alice Guo, 35 Others with new graft, misconduct cases
- Zelenskyy seeks talks with Trump and European leaders on slow progress of peace efforts with Russia
- More funding sought for sports commission
- Napolcom welcomes Nartatez’s move to recall Torre’s reassignments
- Pagasa: Trough of LPA, 'habagat' will bring rain, thunderstorms across PH
- 'Ondoy'-level rains swamp Quezon City
- Evicted from their forests, Kenyan hunter-gatherers fight for their rights
- ERC amends net-metering rules to expand renewable energy options
