MANILA - Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Wednesday said reports that 7 majority senators refused to sign a resolution that condemns extra-judicial killings are incorrect.

During a Senate probe on fake news Wednesday, Pangilinan said his staff sent copies of the resolution to the senators before it was filed last September 25.

• Pangilinan's staff: Majority senators got copies of Senate resolution on EJKs

But Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, one of the 7 senators who were bashed for the incorrect reports, said he was not able to receive the resolution draft in his email.

"It's incorrect to say they refused to sign. We sent it to the emails and we said that if they wish to sponsor it, we can send the resolution to them but that doesn't mean they refused," said Pangilinan.

Senate Resolution 516 that seeks to investigate the death of youths under the Duterte administration's drug war was signed by 16 senators.

The other majority lawmakers who were not able to sign the resolution are Senators Richard Gordon, Gringo Honasan, Manny Pacquiao, Koko Pimentel, Cynthia Villar, and Migz Zubiri.

"Isa ako sa 7 senador na binatikos sa social media dahil hindi kami nakapirma sa sinasabing resolution. Pinapalabas na suportado namin ang extrajudicial killings," said Pacquiao for his part.

"Hindi tama na sabihing hindi pumirma ang taong hindi naman nabigyan ng pagkakataon na pumirma. Ni anino nga ng resolution hindi ko nakita e," he added.

Senator Villar also said she did not get any email from the staff of Pangilinan.

"I've asked all my staff if they received an email. There's no email. We were not informed. We were not asked to sign. We did not refuse to sign," said Villar.

Senator Zubiri for his part said he was approached by Pangilinan about the resolution but he was about to give a privilege speech on hazing victim Horacio "Atio" Castillo III that time.

"I said let's talk after and he never came back. We saw each other at the lounge but he never mentioned anything about the resolution," he said, adding that he would've signed the resolution.

Pangilinan, however, said the fact that he approached Zubiri personally showed that he wanted the senator to sign the resolution.