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.
"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://lxu-ixf-mrgy-pg.gangzhifhm.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.
- Appointments panel holds first session
- UK, Japan, South Korea endure hottest summer on record
- Fears of new political crisis grip France
- Choose Ombudsman with integrity, intelligence, insight – Cayetano
- Metro Manila, rest of Luzon would be rainy due to ‘habagat’ —Pagasa
- Israel ups pressure on Gaza City as Trump talks post-war plan
- Red Cross head says mass evacuation of Gaza City 'impossible'
- Trump moves to cut more foreign aid, risking shutdown
- Nepali court: Hindu holy men's nudity not obscene
- UK's mass facial-recognition roll-out alarms rights groups
