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://stx-wg-ou-bgjl.redcanaco.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.
- Go files housing development bill
- 1.2K pass Electrical Engineers exam
- DMW: 19 distressed OFWs return home from Jeddah
- LBC Express Holdings top executive to retire in Oct.
- Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts with lava pouring out from multiple vents
- Marcos signs law giving 99-year land lease to foreign investors
- Trump moves to cut more foreign aid, risking shutdown
- Gasoline, diesel prices to increase by P1 next week
- DILG denies claims ex-PNP chief ousted over firearms purchase
- Bureau of Customs seeks missing luxury cars of contractor Sarah Discaya
