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.
"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., This news data comes from:http://erlvyiwan.com
"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.
- HEADLINES: Lacson: DPWH exec sought ‘insertions’ | Sept. 8, 2025
- Trump moves to limit US stays of students, journalists
- Thai opposition holds kingmaking summit deciding new PM
- 15 people hospitalized after double-decker bus crashes outside London's Victoria Station
- UN watchdog finds uranium traces at suspected Syrian former nuclear site
- Portugal mourns after Lisbon streetcar accident kills 15
- Fuel prices up for 3rd straight week
- Suspect in 2012 killing of Dutch aid worker freed
- Madagascar welcomes home skulls of Indigenous warriors taken by French colonial troops 128 years ago
- Police general suspended for ‘obstruction’ of evidence in case of missing sabungeros
