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, This news data comes from:http://ysgbld.redcanaco.com
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.
"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.
- South Korea's Lee faces pivotal test at first summit with Trump
- PH Army showcases disaster response capabilities before Thai defense officials
- Trump withdraws Kamala Harris's Secret Service protection
- AboitizPower pushes growth with clean, renewable energy
- Typhoon death toll rises in Vietnam as downed trees hamper rescuers
- Discaya names lawmakers in ‘extortion’
- Pagasa monitors 2 LPAs inside PAR; prevailing 'habagat' brings rain across PH
- Lacson: Torre 'acted beyond his authority'
- Hontiveros wants Senate to probe Chinese who pretended to be Filipino
- House panel defers 2026 DPWH budget until agency submit changes
