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://usox-ht-amw-ooke.gangzhifhm.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.
- UK police arrest hundreds in latest Palestine Action demo
- Indonesia leader orders investigation into driver's protest death
- Magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattles Surigao del Sur
- 9 dead in Ecuador after bus plunges into ravine
- Construction managers, developers back Housing chief's anti-corruption advocacy
- Trump rebrands Department of Defense as 'Department of War'
- Bishops demand broad probe into flood project corruption
- ERC amends net-metering rules to expand renewable energy options
- Gomez-Estoesta named court administrator by Supreme Court
- Philippine experts urge harm reduction strategy for tobacco control
