MANILA, Philippines — Three senators have strongly opposed the proposed granting of amnesty to Abu Sayyaf Group, saying this would only send a wrong signal to other “criminal elements.”

"Amnesty for Abu Sayyaf is a bad idea. They’re an extremist fringe who should be taught to follow law and order," Senator Aqulino Pimentel Jr. said on Wednesday.

"It sends a terrible signal," said Senator Francis Pangilinan.

“It creates the impression that criminal elements involved in heinous offenses will be accommodated by an amnesty proclamation. Respect for our laws will be diminished severely by an amnesty proclamation," he said.

An amnesty proclamation for Abu Sayyaf Group, Pangilinan said, would also give an impression the government was incapable of enforcing laws.

"It projects an inutile, powerless government in the face of lawlessness and criminality. Magsara na lang ang gobyerno kung ‘di n’ya kayang lipulin at pananagutin ang ASG sa mga iligal nitong gawain (The government should close down if it could not crush and make the ASG answerable for its illegal activities)," he said.

Senator Rodolfo Biazon said the granting of amnesty for the group was not an assurance peace would be achieved in war-torn Mindanao.

"The grant of amnesty has not achieved peace for us. And now, we are considering this for a terrorist group? I will oppose that move," Biazon said.

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, on the other hand, was open to the idea of granting amnesty to the Islamic extremists so long as it would do good for the country.

"If it will lead to peace, why not?" Escudero said.

" But to truly address the issue, the government must resolve the root cause of the problem... poverty and the absence or lack of development in the area," he said.