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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
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://gangzhifhm.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.
"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.
- Earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 610 people and injures 1,300
- Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin makes surprise departure ahead of a risky court ruling
- Sotto ousts Escudero in Senate coup
- Ukraine's children start new school year in underground classrooms to avoid Russian bombs
- Sen. Go files bills to push health, social, and labor reforms
- Sen. Hontiveros pushes for Philippine Geriatric Center to aid seniors
- Cebu Pacific to launch direct flights between Cebu and Palawan
- Read to reduce sentence, Uzbekistan tells prisoners
- Cooperatives group lauds Konektadong Pinoy Law as milestone in digital inclusion
- Trump move to cut more foreign aid risking shutdown
