Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday produced 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.
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.
In Filipino: Lacson, Naglabas ng ‘Resibo’ sa Papel ng DPWH Usec sa Maagang Budget Insertions
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.’ (The thing speaks for itself,” Lacson remarked.
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Lacson, Naglabas ng ‘Resibo’ sa Papel ng DPWH Usec sa Maagang Budget Insertions
Naglabas ng resibo si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes hinggil sa pagkakasangkot ng isang opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na umano’y tumawag at nag-imbita sa hindi bababa sa isang mambabatas upang magsagawa ng maagang insertions sa budget para sa 2026.
Sa kanyang privilege speech, ipinakita ni Lacson ang screenshot ng isang mensahe mula kay “DPWH Usec. Ma. Catalina” na ipinadala kay Senate President Vicente Sotto III, makalipas lamang ang ilang araw matapos siyang manalo sa senatorial polls noong Mayo.
Inilabas ni Lacson ang resibo matapos tanggihan ni Cabral kay DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon ang papel niya sa isyu.
“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),” ani Lacson.
Binigyang-diin niya na ang mensaheng ito ay humihingi ng mga proyekto mula kay Sotto upang maisama sa National Expenditure Program. Tinanggihan ni Sotto ang imbitasyon.
Ayon sa screenshot, tinanong umano ni DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral si Sotto kung may priority projects siya para sa “vetting” laban sa redundancy, overlap, prior funding, tamang lokasyon at alignment sa national priorities, at consistency sa menu para sa local projects.
“Para masama ko po sa NEP Sir (So I can include this in the NEP),” ayon sa mensahe.
“Ayan po ang resibo: ‘Para maisama ko po sa NEP sir’ — her words, not mine. Sabi nga ng mga abogado – ‘res ipsa loquitur.’ (The thing speaks for itself),” dagdag ni Lacson.
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