MANILA - The Abu Sayyaf bandit group is not qualified for amnesty, former National Security Adviser and Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday.

"Ang Abu Sayyaf is not a political group. Ang kanilang ginagawa ay kidnapping, pagsusunog, pagpatay at pagpugot ng ulo (Abu Sayyaf is not a political group. They kidnap, burn, kill and behead)," Golez said in an interview on ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG).

Golez said granting amnesty to members of the Abu Sayyaf, which is considered a terrorist group locally and internationally, may be unconstitutional. He added that historically, no president has ever issued amnesty proclamations for terrorists.

Instead of granting amnesty and starting peace talks with the terror group, which has beheaded some of its Filipino and foreign kidnap victims, Golez said Malacañang should start pouring development projects into poor communities, particularly in Sulu and Basilan, which is "a breeding ground for terrorism."

"Malaking tulong iyan para maibaba ang level ng terrorism sa lugar na iyan. Palagay ko, iyan ang dapat isulong ng gobyerno, hindi po peace talks," the congressman said.

Golez, however, said that if the government is seriously thinking of forgiving the local terrorists, it should at least tell the bandits to go through due process, haul them to court and wait for their convictions.

"Kapag sila ay may conviction na, puwede na silang mag-apply for commutation sa gobyerno," he said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Tuesday that Malacañang can ask lawmakers to extend an existing amnesty program for rebels to accommodate Abu Sayyaf members.

Ermita made the statement in response to Sen. Richard Gordon's proposal for government to consider granting amnesty to elderly members of the bandit group, including its known chief Radulan Sahiron.

Gordon said that instead of asking for ransom money, the Abu Sayyaf members he talked had asked for development projects in exchange for their victims' release.

The Abu Sayyaf group that kidnapped the three Red Cross workers are led by Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu and Albader Parad.

Gordon said even Dr. Abu had told him that he is willing to surrender.