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
"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., This news data comes from:http://sgjjklkr.aichuwei.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.
- A summit and parade in China may signal a geopolitical shift
- China criticizes Canadian, Australian warships transiting Taiwan Strait
- Nartatez vows to be fair in making reassignments
- South Korean President vows support to Koreans arrested in US immigration raid
- Scramble for survivors as Afghan earthquake death toll passes 1,400
- Comelec to open nearly two-year overseas voter registration for 2028 elections
- Aftershocks rumble quake-hit Afghanistan as death toll tops 1,400
- Malabon shifts garbage disposal to Rizal landfill after Navotas closure
- Maryland resident is diagnosed with New World screwworm. What to know about the parasite
- Lacson to Marcoleta: I don’t want a fight but I won’t back down from one
