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
"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., This news data comes from:http://vxceheih.705-888.com
"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.
- Tariffs, migration and cartels will top Rubio's talks in Mexico and Ecuador this week
- Makati earns high rating in anti-trafficking and violence assessment
- Marcos signs law giving 99-year land lease to foreign investors
- Motive probed for US church shooting that killed 2 children, injured 17
- Need a pee? Japan has QR code for that
- Some areas in Metro Manila, 5 provinces to have power interruptions due to maintenance works
- Firefighters arrested by US immigration officials
- Ukraine eyes defense deal with PH that includes co-production of drones, says envoy
- Vatican puts Pope Francis' ecological preaching into practice with vocational farm center
- Comelec: Postponed village, youth elections not in 2026 budget
