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://www.052298.com
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.
- Thousands protest in Indonesia as military deployed in capital
- Washington makes military aid overtures to Sahel juntas
- Government work, classes on Tuesday suspended due to bad weather
- Humanoid robots showcase skills at Ancient Olympia. But they're on a long road to catch up to AI
- Pagasa: Rainy Monday over Visayas, Luzon areas due to LPA, 'habagat'
- Putin lands in Tianjin for summit hosted by China
- Marcos to attend UN meet in New York in Sept- Palace
- Earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 610 people and injures 1,300
- US warship heading toward Caribbean Sea
- Public Works Chief Vince Dizon demands courtesy resignations to 'clean house'
