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
"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., This news data comes from:http://qg-fie-hftg-lcdg.052298.com
- PH, Australia commend ‘impressive’ joint sea drills
- Surfacing of WPS features ‘likely’ natural occurrence, not due to dumped crushed corals
- China 'elephant in the room' at fraught Pacific Islands summit
- 13 massage therapists robbed, 2 cry rape
- India to cut taxes on hundreds of consumer goods to boost local demand following steep US tariffs
- Bonoan freezes DPWH travel passes
- UN watchdog finds uranium traces at suspected Syrian former nuclear site
- PNP disputes China's crime advisory, says Philippines crime rate dropped
- Thailand set for vote on new PM after dissolution bid rejected
- Trump: Many Americans ‘like a dictator’
