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.
"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., This news data comes from:http://www.gyglfs.com
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"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 Korean prosecutors indict Yoon's wife, former PM
- House probe tackles flood control corruption: Lawmakers disclose conflicts of interest
- Widespread flooding in Quezon City due to heavy rains, stranding commuters, rendering most roads impassable to vehicles
- Tokyo protests to Beijing over gas field in East China Sea
- SC clarifies rules on land ownership
- Cyclone's trough, habagat will bring cloudy skies, rain showers over PH
- Israel ups pressure on Gaza City
- Remulla pledges transparency and impartiality as Ombudsman
- Berlin urges Israel to 'immediately' improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza
- Protesters storm Discaya office in Pasig to demand accountability for 'ghost flood control projects'
