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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson shows 'resibo' of DPWH exec's role in early budget insertions

Lacson shows 'resibo' of DPWH exec's role in early budget insertions

Published Sep 9, 2025 06:58 pm  |  Updated Sep 10, 2025 08:11 am
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson on Tuesday, Sept. 9, showed proof of the involvement of a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official who allegedly called up and invited at least one lawmaker to make early insertions in the budget for 2026.
(Screenshot from YouTube)
(Screenshot from YouTube)
In a privilege speech, Lacson presented a screenshot of a message from DPWH Undersecretary. Ma. Catalina Cabral to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, shortly after he won the senatorial polls last May.
He presented the "receipt" after Cabral denied to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon her involvement in the mess.
"Let me put this one issue away first. The Usec that I mentioned to have offered our Senate President to make “insertions” in the 2026 NEP vehemently denied it to her new boss, DPWH Sec Vince Dizon, and to his face at that - was actually lying through her teeth. Dapat alam niya na hindi ako basta nagsasalita nang walang katibayan (She should know that I don't talk without proof)," Lacson said.
He noted the message sought projects from Sotto for inclusion in the National Expenditure Program. Sotto rejected the "invitation."
The screenshot supposedly from DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral asked Sotto if he had priority projects for "vetting" for redundancy, overlap, prior funding, correct location and alignment to national priorities and consistency with the menu for local projects.
"Para masama ko po sa NEP Sir (So I can include this in the NEP)," the message read.
"Ayan po ang resibo: 'Para maisama ko po sa NEP sir' -- her words, not mine. Sabi nga ng mga abogado - 'res ipsa loquitur.' ( Here’s the receipt: 'So I can include it in the NEP, sir' — her words, not mine. As the lawyers would say. The thing speaks for itself)," Lacson remarked.

Related Tags

ping lacson Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Expenditure Program (NEP)
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