Lacson hopes subpanel issue on death penalty bills resolved by Monday

Senator Panfilo Lacson is hoping that the issue on whether or not to create a justice subcommittee to tackle the death penalty bills would be resolved during their all-senators' caucus next Monday.

"Hopefully, we will resolve the issue of the death penalty bills during an all senators caucus on Monday before session starts at 3 p.m.," Lacson said in a message to reporters on Thursday.

"Many among our colleagues especially in the majority bloc believe that Senator Ronald dela Rosa scored points when he responded to the interpellations after his privilege speech on the death penalty yesterday," he added.

Dela Rosa on Wednesday said the COVID-19 pandemic should not hinder the Senate from discussing the death penalty for drug traffickers, which was mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"Number one priority pa rin natin ang COVID-19 but Mr. President, with all due respect, itong ating Senado naman ay puwede mag-multi-tasking. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na stuck tayo sa ibang gagawin, focus tayo sa COVID-19," he said.

Currently, there are 10 pending death penalty bills in the upper chamber that were all referred to the Senate Committee on Justice.

Dela Rosa has volunteered to lead the subcommittee hearings on the matter, taking the place of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian in the justice panel.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, for his part, said the creation of a justice subcommittee to discuss the death penalty bills depends on the decision of its chairman, Senator Richard Gordon, and its members.

Gordon has earlier expressed his reluctance to begin the deliberations on the death penalty bills even as it was one of the priority legislation outlined by Duterte in his SONA.

"Monday’s caucus is for the discussions on priority measures like CREATE and others that are pending with the Senate," Zubiri said.

Zubiri also maintained his opposition to the revival of death penalty.

"As a Red Cross member for over 20 years now, we believe that life is sacred. So I maintain my anti-death penalty stance," he said. --KBK, GMA News