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., This news data comes from:http://emfwuh.052298.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.
- ‘Lannie’ to bring rain over NLuzon, southwest monsoon to affect Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa —Pagasa
- Immigration deports 49 South Korean fugitives
- 'Mockery of science': US experts blast Trump climate report
- Putin threatens to target Western troops in Ukraine
- US agents arrest 475 in Hyundai-LG plant raid
- DPWH exec fired, 2 others face dismissal over flood control mess
- Meralco expects drop in power rates this month thanks to stronger peso
- Pasig police prepare charges vs protesters
- WBO champ looms as Pacquiao’s next opponent
- Aftershocks rumble quake-hit Afghanistan as death toll tops 1,400
