Senator Panfilo M. Lacson is optimistic that the Senate would be able to resolve on Monday the probable creation of a Senate justice and human rights sub-committee to begin a public hearing on the proposed reimposition of the death penalty.
Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee, said the Senate would hold a caucus to be attended by all senators before the resumption of their plenary session on Monday afternoon to resolve the issue.
Senator Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa had presented himself to defend his pro-death penalty bill.
There are 10 death penalty bills that remain pending at the Senate Justice and Human Rights committee chaired by Senator Richard J. Gordon, an anti-death penalty advocate.
In yesterday’s Senate plenary session, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian relinquished his membership from Gordon’s committee in order that dela Rosa could become a regular committee member that will eventually allow him to defend or sponsor his bill.
Lacson, vice chairman of the justice committee and also a death penalty proponent, said yesterday he is confident that dela Rosa would be able to defend his death penalty position.
Both Lacson and dela Rosa are former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs.
In his privilege speech yesterday, dela Rosa said it is time to take up and pass into law the death penalty measure to finally end the halcyon days of drug traffickers in the multi-billion-peso drug trade.
Lacson said he believes dela Rosa would be able to score points after having weathered a barrage of questions when interpellated by his colleagues after delivering his privilege speech on the need to reimpose the death penalty.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the creation of a sub-committee of the mother justice and human rights committee depends on Gordon.
In yesterday’s regular session, Gordon said he would call a committee hearing at the proper time but he himself would not sponsor or defend the death penalty bill is presented on the Senate floor.