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://ei-td-lfnl-rny.771bg.com
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"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.
- Thailand's Parliament to vote Friday for a new prime minister
- Discaya companies' licenses revoked for bid-rigging
- Fire breaks out in Manila residential area
- House tackles P881B public works budget amid flood control anomalies
- No winner in Grand, Megalotto draws for Aug 27
- House panel defers 2026 DPWH budget until agency submit changes
- Pump prices go up
- 13 massage therapists robbed, 2 cry rape
- Palace suspends govt work, classes in several areas due to bad weather
- Comelec defers reconstitution of BARMM parliamentary districts
