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://jyxingfa.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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson

- Corruption crackdown: VP Sara Duterte, lawmakers call for deeper probe into government
- Artikulo Onse' group calls for independent panel to probe flood control corruption
- An AI simulation of a Mount Fuji eruption is being used to prepare Tokyo for the worst
- Filipino priest wins Ramon Magsaysay Award for activism against Duterte's drug war
- MMDA proposes rainwater facilities in Camp Aguinaldo to mitigate EDSA flooding
- Duterte defense files more motions challenging ICC prosecutor
- 2 Marikina policemen accused of molestation
- SSS pension reform program starts in September
- Isko files raps over demolition of sports complex
- Trump: Many Americans ‘like a dictator’