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://thd-hyqe-elw-bel.aichuwei.com
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"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.
- Leviste files charges against DPWH engineer who tried to bribe him
- WorldSkills Asean Manila begins
- 'Mockery of science': US experts blast Trump climate report
- A summit and parade in China may signal a geopolitical shift
- Duterte defense files more motions challenging ICC prosecutor
- Quezon City launches 'Healthy QC' ordinance to combat childhood obesity
- Wildfires producing 'witches' brew' of air pollution – UN
- Indonesia leader orders investigation into driver's protest death
- Dizon to abolish DPWH internal special investigation team created to look into the flood control anomalies
- Quezon City hails directive for national projects to get local permits
