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., This news data comes from:http://pgf.erlvyiwan.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.
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.
- Thailand set for vote on new PM after dissolution bid rejected
- Comelec en banc upholds cancelation of Duterte Youth Party-List registration
- Trump tells Europe to put economic pressure on China over Ukraine
- Malabon averts crisis with garbage deal
- Senators Estrada and Villanueva deny getting kickbacks after former engineer tags them in House hearing
- China displays its weaponry in a tightly controlled military parade
- Puno seeks probe of anomalous projects ‘funders’
- House probe tackles flood control corruption: Lawmakers disclose conflicts of interest
- Search for survivors after Afghan earthquake kills 800
- NKorea's Kim tells Xi hopes to 'steadily develop' ties – KCNA
