Lacson to Pacquiao: Get Senate pulse first on death penalty bill

LACSON GUESTS AT KAPIHAN: Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, discusses the difficulty of passing the proposed death penalty bill in the Senate during the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, January 11, 2018. Lacson, an author of the measure, said that based on discussions with fellow senators, the bill “would have a difficult time getting the numbers it needs to pass in the Senate.” He said that alternatively, the Upper Chamber could work on other important bills, such as the proposed National ID System Act. (PRIB Photo by Cesar Tomambo/ 11 January 2018)

Instead of wasting the time of the Senate, Senator Panfilo Lacson advised Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday to first get the pulse of their colleagues on the proposed death penalty bill as he disclosed that the measure might have difficulty getting the approval of the chamber.

Pacquiao has been designated to lead within the month a subcomittee hearing regarding the proposed measure.

But Lacson, one of the proponents of the death penalty bill, disclosed that based on his informal discussions with his colleagues, the proposal might not be able to get the number needed to get the approval of the Senate.

“…talagang hirap yung bilang. Hindi makakakuha ng required number para maipasa yung death penalty bill dito sa Senate,” he said during the “Kapihan sa Senado” on Thursday.

(It’s really hard to get the numbers. I don’t think it will not get the required number in order to pass the death penalty bill here at Senate.)

Asked if the hearing by Pacquiao’s subcommittee would then be a waste of time, Lacson said: “Yun nga, lalabas na waste of time.”

(That’s pretty much it, appears to be just a waste of time.)

“Instead na mag-tackle kami ng mga bills na alam naming may pag asang makalusot e ita-tackle mo yung bill na alam mong pagdating ng oras ng botohan e matatalo, e sinayang mo din yung time na yun di ba?”

(Instead of tackling bills that we know had a good chance of making it approved, we would be tackling a bill that you’ll know would definitely lose when the voting time comes. So, you will be wasting that opportunity.)

“So mas mainam na yung medyo mangapa ka na muna. Kung ako si Sen. Pacquiao, mangangapa na muna ako. Ilan ba yung makukuh kong boto? Sapat ba yun? Meron ba akong 12 votes para maipasa yung death penalty bill na Senate version?” Lacson added.

(So, it is better to feel the pulse first. If I were Sen. Pacquiao, I will get the pulse. How many votes will I get? Would that be enough? Do I have 12 votes to pass the Senate version of the death penalty bill?)

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has directed Pacquiao’s panel to resume the hearing on the measure following criticisms from Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that the Senate has been slow on acting on the issue.

The House of Representatives has already approved the bill while the same measure has been pending in the Senate. /jpv

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