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.
"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.

DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"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., This news data comes from:http://jyxingfa.com
- Undersea cables cut in the Red Sea, disrupting internet access in Asia and the Mideast
- Filipino fulfills dream of performing with K-pop group before home fans
- House panel defers 2026 DPWH budget until agency submits changes
- Tensions soar in Indonesia as protests over police brutality and lawmakers' allowances continue
- 'Large shark' kills man off Sydney beach
- Eight towns in Cotabato cancel classes on Monday
- LPA affects Metro Manila, Mindanao, Visayas
- Xi slams 'bullying' in speech to regional leaders at summit
- North Korea's Kim in China ahead of massive military parade
- DICT grants amnesty to unregistered delivery firms