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://705-888.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.
- Drug war whistleblower Royina Garma returns to PH after US detention
- ‘Lannie’ to bring rain over NLuzon, southwest monsoon to affect Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa —Pagasa
- DPWH engineer denies role in Bulacan flood control ‘ghost projects’
- Israel ups pressure on Gaza City as Trump talks post-war plan
- China 'unstoppable', says Xi with Kim, Putin at his side
- Typhoon death toll rises in Vietnam as downed trees hamper rescuers
- Modi: India, Japan to 'shape the Asian century'
- Cebu Pacific to launch direct flights between Cebu and Palawan
- Customs finds only 2 luxury cars at contractor's compound in Pasig
- Thai woman jailed for 43 years for lese majeste freed
