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., This news data comes from:http://wd-mr-gbaw-ygke.gyglfs.com
"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.
- Malacañang calls plot to jail VP Duterte 'wild imagination'
- Xi slams 'bullying' in speech to regional leaders at summit
- Judge reverses Trump administration's cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University
- Evicted from their forests, Kenyan hunter-gatherers fight for their rights
- Indonesian police officer fired over killing that sparked protests
- Most Filipinos distrust China, see it as biggest threat — OCTA survey
- Thailand's Parliament to vote Friday for a new prime minister
- CFO moves office from QC to Pasay
- Trump tells Europe to put economic pressure on China over Ukraine
- Retired NBI agents urge Marcos to appoint career official to replace Santiago
