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://052298.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.
- Thailand acting PM moves to dissolve parliament — party
- Supreme Court censures Marikina judge over parking dispute with PAO lawyer
- UK police arrest hundreds in latest Palestine Action demo
- House panel defers 2026 DPWH budget until agency submit changes
- Bonoan resigned due to command responsibility — Marcos
- Marcos orders lifestyle checks on all government officials amid flood control probe
- Isko Moreno files charges against contractor over illegal demolition of sports complex in Manila
- Sara mum, but brother thinks Torre removal due to PNP's 'internal conflicts'
- Searchers retrieve bodies as Afghan quake toll seen to rise
- PNP disputes China's crime advisory, says Philippines crime rate dropped
