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://yamato-syokunin.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
- DPWH seeks lookout bulletin vs officials, contractors in ghost projects
- Makati earns high rating in anti-trafficking and violence assessment
- LPA over West PH Sea develops into tropical depression, now called ‘Jacinto’ -- Pagasa
- PH Army showcases disaster response capabilities before Thai defense officials
- La Niña may return but temperatures will remain high, UN says
- Wildfires producing 'witches' brew' of air pollution – UN
- New Zealand to allow some wealthy foreign investors onto property market
- LPA has big chance of intensifying into tropical cyclone to be named ‘Kiko’
- AKG chief denies using ‘kidnap’ car for personal purposes
- San Juan commemorates first revolution under Spanish rule in 129th Araw ng Pinaglabanan
