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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
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://uaa.ycyzqzxyh.com
"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.
- Nartatez vows fair assignments, better resource management as new PNP chief
- Choose Ombudsman with integrity, intelligence, insight – Cayetano
- Malacañang calls plot to jail VP Duterte 'wild imagination'
- Israel tells residents to leave Gaza City ahead of offensive
- Comelec: Postponed village, youth elections not in 2026 budget
- House resumes budget briefings
- House suspends DPWH budget deliberations pending submission of changes by agency, DBM
- Sarah Discaya grilled by Senate over alleged DPWH links
- DPWH to revisit budget, to complete revisions within 2 weeks
- Drug war whistleblower Royina Garma returns to PH after US detention
