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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson, This news data comes from:http://bse.jyxingfa.com
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
"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.
- Guyana votes amid oil boom, Venezuela tensions
- Madagascar welcomes home skulls of Indigenous warriors taken by French colonial troops 128 years ago
- Eight towns in Cotabato cancel classes on Monday
- International media protest over journalist deaths in Gaza
- Scramble for survivors as Afghan earthquake death toll passes 1,400
- Heavy rains flood parts of Metro Manila anew
- 13 massage therapists robbed, 2 cry rape
- DoJ to begin preliminary investigation into missing cockfighting enthusiasts
- Aftershocks rumble quake-hit Afghanistan as death toll tops 1,400
- Marcos lauds Alex Eala’s win in Guadalajara
