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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson, This news data comes from:http://www.jyxingfa.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
- Indonesian finance minister's home looted as protest anger grows
- Marcos signs laws creating more court branches
- Meeting South Korea, Trump could eye new chance with North
- SEARCH WARRANT
- NATO members to reach 2% defense spending goal this year
- Israel flattens high-rise as it tells Gaza City residents to flee
- Van Gogh Museum 'could close' without more help from Dutch govt
- Vatican puts Pope Francis' ecological preaching into practice with vocational farm center
- Inoue says taunts 'missed the target' ahead of world title clash
- Marcos lauds Filipinos for role in nation building on National Heroes Day
