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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"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://jmb-ca-twg-hf.redcanaco.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.
- House panel defers 2026 DPWH budget until agency submit changes
- Heavy rain falls in parts of Southeast Asia after tropical storm blows into Vietnam Heavy rain falls in parts of Southeast Asia after tropical storm blows into Vietnam
- Israeli forces seize nearly 0,000 in West Bank raid
- India warns Pakistan of more cross-border flooding due to heavy monsoon rains
- NBI slaps Alice Guo, 35 Others with new graft, misconduct cases
- MMDA readies for FIVB men’s volleyball
- France seized by fears of new political crisis
- Escudero urges list of unfundable projects for 2026 budget
- New mining law to balance profit, ecology
- Ukraine says Russia linked to lawmaker's killing
