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., This news data comes from:http://www.aichuwei.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.
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.
- Rise in HFMD cases due to better reporting, not outbreak
- Marcos suspends importation of regular, well-milled rice for 60 days
- Senate subpoenas 8 DPWH officials, contractors in flood control probe
- Fears of new political crisis grip France
- India to probe giant zoo run by son of Asia's richest person
- Supreme Court censures Marikina judge over parking dispute with PAO lawyer
- Wife of Australian man wanted in police killings urges him to surrender
- Maryland resident is diagnosed with New World screwworm. What to know about the parasite
- Transport chief pushes shame campaign vs errant motorists
- Nepali court: Hindu holy men's nudity not obscene
