MANILA – Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson presented what he described as “receipts” proving the involvement of a senior Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official in alleged early budget insertions for 2026.

In a privilege speech, Lacson showed a screenshot of a message supposedly sent by DPWH Undersecretary Ma. Catalina Cabral to newly elected Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III shortly after the May 2025 elections.

The message asked Sotto if he had priority projects that could be vetted for “redundancy, overlap, prior funding, correct location and alignment to national priorities and consistency with the menu for local projects” so they could be included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

“Para masama ko po sa NEP, Sir (So I can include this in the NEP),” the message read.

Lacson said the screenshot disproves Cabral’s earlier denial to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon of her role in the alleged budget manipulation.

“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,” Lacson said.

According to Lacson, Sotto rejected the offer.

“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),” he added.

The revelation comes amid ongoing Senate investigations into alleged anomalous flood control projects and questionable budget practices within the DPWH.