DPWH exec

Lacson added that Sotto turned down the offer.

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"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?" he said.

In a separate interview, Sotto confirmed Lacson's statements, saying someone relayed an offer in behalf of the DPWH, asking if he was interested in submitting projects for inclusion in the NEP.

"Senator Lacson's story is true. Someone relayed to me, asking if I am interested to submit for the NEP. I said no because it would look like I inserted in the NEP. I never did that ever," Sotto said.

He said he was told that the call came from Cabral.

Lacson said he has formally asked for records related to the budget call, noting that he has already seen hundreds of "distinct" entries in the draft, including 660 identical P100-million projects without specific details.

The senator warned that collusion between lawmakers and agencies in crafting the NEP undermines existing safeguards in the budget process.

He recalled that the budget call for 2026 began in January 2025 and was likely completed by June, weeks before President Marcos called out questionable budget practices in his July 28 State of the Nation Address.