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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson, This news data comes from:http://705-888.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.
"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.
- 2,000 North Korean troops killed in Russia deployment: Seoul spy agency
- Islamic State claims deadly attack on Pakistan rally
- Hontiveros pushes P15,000 salary hike for teachers
- Ukraine offers to co-produce drones with Philippines for maritime patrols
- Fire breaks out in Manila residential area
- Pagasa monitors 2 LPAs inside PAR; prevailing 'habagat' brings rain across PH
- Trump moves to cut more foreign aid, risking shutdown
- Suspect in 2012 killing of Dutch aid worker freed
- Filipino priest wins Ramon Magsaysay Award for activism against Duterte's drug war
- US approves .5M in assistance to Nigeria to help address hunger
