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., This news data comes from:http://cxh.771bg.com
"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.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"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.
- Gomez-Estoesta named court administrator by Supreme Court
- Pope Leo: We must listen first before speaking
- Dizon to abolish DPWH internal special investigation team created to look into the flood control anomalies
- Israel flattens high-rise as it tells Gaza City residents to flee
- CFO moves office from QC to Pasay
- Indonesia leader orders investigation into driver's protest death
- Trump says he wants to meet North Korea's Kim again
- UN force in Lebanon slams Israeli drone attack on peacekeepers
- Dizon to order DPWH officials to submit courtesy resignation
- Cyclone's trough, habagat will bring cloudy skies, rain showers over PH