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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson, This news data comes from:http://705-888.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.
- Escudero subpoenaes 10 DPWH contractors for Senate probe next week
- Palace hits Discayas over ‘misinformation’ on PH film center project
- Plea written in blood saves Chinese woman trapped in locked room
- Immigration deports 49 South Korean fugitives
- CFO moves office from QC to Pasay
- House panel defers 2026 DPWH budget until agency submit changes
- Rubio says US warned France on Israel annexation moves
- Eight towns in Cotabato cancel classes on Monday
- DPWH opens foreign-assisted projects to LGUs
- Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin makes surprise departure ahead of a risky court ruling
