MANILA- Members of the House majority appear to have lost their patience with persistent questions on the quorum during plenary sessions tackling the death penalty bill, saying these are mere dilatory tactics of those opposing the bill.

The Majority is now inclined to terminate deliberations and expedite a vote.

The death penalty bill's lead sponsor, House Justice Committee Chair Rey Umali, said the debates have not raised new points.

“Ako from where I view it wala namang bago nire-raise na issue…We’re just prolonging the agony. Unless there will be new matters, what’s the use of containing the debates given we have accorded 5-6 interpellators who asked the same questions?” he said.

Umali said they may revise the bill through a committee amendment down the line

House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas raised the possibility of an early vote on the bill last week, saying many members of Congress have already made up their minds on how to vote on the bill and that the debates are just to accommodate those who want to speak their minds.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez previously slammed the use of dilatory tactics by critics of the bill.

Anti-death penalty lawmakers however denied using dilatory tactics and have repeatedly defended their perpetual checking of a quorum during plenary sessions saying it is a prerequisite to sessions.

In a previous interview with ANC, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said he thinks pro-death penalty lawmakers don’t have the numbers to pass the bill.

“I don’t think they have the numbers to pass the measure so the Speaker has resorted to intimidation of house members particularly deputy speakers and committee chairs,” Lagman said.

Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said he will vote no to the bill but still criticized delaying tactics against the measure.

“I will not support those opposition in the house na gumamagit ng delaying and squid tactics,” he said.

Angkla Party-list Rep. Jesulito Manalo said debates should continue and that technicalities of the debate should be set aside if the substance of the debates would be affected.

"The debates should continue especially on an issue like the imposition of the capital punishment…but if it’s only a question of technicalities…technicalities should be set aside when the substantive issue would be affected," he said.

The leadership has set March 8 and 15 as dates for voting on 2nd and 3rd readings, respectively.

After the debates, the bill will go through a period of amendments before it is voted upon on 2nd reading and will be calendared for a vote on 3rd reading after 3 days.