This was done to inform them about the resolution and to show the number of signatures, and to ask them if they want to sponsor it. pic.twitter.com/tIEqhDXfC8

— Kiko Pangilinan (@kikopangilinan) September 29, 2017

MANILA (UPDATED/CORRECTED) - The chief of staff of Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Friday said a Senate resolution that seeks to investigate the death of youths under the Duterte administration's drug war was sent to several members of the Senate majority four days before filing.

In a statement, Atty. Herminio Bagro III said Senate Resolution 516 was sent on Sept. 21 to the official emails of Senators Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Cynthia Villar, Miguel Zubiri, and Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III.

"Clearly there was no attempt to keep or withhold the resolution from the seven senators. The Senate rules were followed," the statement read.

Bagro said Gordon "acknowledged receipt of the email on the same day."

Pangilinan quoted parts of the statement on Twitter on Friday.

"On Tuesday, September 26, it was read on the floor, stating the title of the resolution and the names of the 16 co-authors. It should be noted that no one manifested desire to be a co-author of the measure. Senate President Pimentel referred it to the committee of Senators Hontiveros and Lacson," Bagro said.

"Clearly there was no attempt to keep or withhold the resolution from the seven senators. The Senate rules were followed," the statement added. "And most importantly, the Senate is showing that it cares to find justice for victims of all extrajudicial killings."

'Never saw the resolution'

The statement came after Villar claimed she was warned by social media practitioners that the minority bloc was out to sabotage the majority.

“They told me that two senators are out to destroy us. Sen. Risa and Bam daw. But I did not believe that until this thing happen. So I thought, maybe this is the start,” Villar earlier said.

The aforementioned senators along with Pimentel and Sen. Manny Pacquiao decried a social media blog's post that said they intentionally did not sign the resolution.

Pimentel earlier said he "never saw the resolution," while Villar said they "were not asked to sign."

The Senate majority on Wednesday filed a separate resolution, Senate Resolution 518, which condemned extrajudicial killings in the "strongest sense."

Editor's note: An earlier version of the story attributed the statement to Senator Francis Pangilinan. This has been corrected, attributing it to his chief of staff, Atty. Herminio Bagro III. We regret the error.