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, This news data comes from:http://nfr-geo-rbv-nukl.ycyzqzxyh.com
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.
"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.
- South Africa's most vulnerable struggle to find HIV medication after US aid cuts
- Lone bettor wins P86M in 6/42 lotto draw for Sept 6
- Trump tells Europe to put economic pressure on China over Ukraine
- Philippine experts urge harm reduction strategy for tobacco control
- Government work, classes on Tuesday suspended due to bad weather
- 2 policemen placed under preventive custody for allegedly molesting a female colleague in Marikina
- NBI slaps Alice Guo, 35 Others with new graft, misconduct cases
- Two dead as strong earthquake jolts Afghanistan
- Fire breaks out in Manila residential area
- DPWH told to build evacuation centers
