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.
"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://ida-sg-yhj-xeac.gangzhifhm.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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
- Drones take on Everest's garbage
- Gaps in healthcare services remain - study
- WBO champ looms as Pacquiao’s next opponent
- Floods kill over 30 in Indian-controlled Kashmir, displace 150,000 in east Pakistan
- Judge reverses Trump administration's cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University
- Israeli protesters demand hostage deal as cabinet meets
- Lacson lauds Leviste for arrest of DPWH engineer who offered P360M bribe
- Trump moves to limit US stays of students, journalists
- Pagasa sees cyclone-free week across PH
- Budget shortfall narrows in July
