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, This news data comes from:http://www.xs888999.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.
"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.
- Islamic State claims deadly attack on Pakistan rally
- Sotto ousts Escudero in Senate coup
- 2028 polls overseas voter registration opens in Dec
- 102-year-old becomes oldest person to summit Mount Fuji
- 175th birth anniversary of Marcelo H. Del Pilar commemorated in Manila
- Xi meets Modi as China and India seek to rebuild ties
- Tourists dice with danger on Hanoi's train street
- Palace slams Discaya couple's denial in Film Heritage Building debacle
- Putin threatens to target Western troops in Ukraine
- Fire breaks out in Manila residential area
