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CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia continued to face mounting backlash after remarks he made during a campaign rally drew outrage from Muslim groups and Bangsamoro officials, with some demanding for accountability, business boycotts, and even a fatwa against his candidacy.
The controversy started after a video of Unabia’s campaign speech started to go viral online on Friday, April 4, showing him making sweeping statements that insinuated Maranaos would bring trouble to Misamis Oriental if candidates with Bangsamoro ties gained power in the province.
Seeking reelection, Unabia’s remarks were accompanied by slides showing photos of ambushes and attacks in the Bangsamoro region, as he warned voters against allowing “this kind of criminality” to spread to the predominantly Catholic Misamis Oriental.
Unabia’s son, Christian, is seeking reelection as representative of the province’s 1st District. He is up against lawyer Karen Lagbas, who is reportedly in a relationship with a prominent Maranao political figure. Lagbas has not spoken publicly about her personal ties with another politician from another region.
The elder Unabia’s comments were swiftly condemned as discriminatory and damaging to ongoing efforts to promote peace and inclusion in Mindanao.
Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. on Sunday, April 6, called on fellow politicians to be mindful of their language.
“Let us be wary and careful with our semantics in public because they may cause division and discord instead of collaboration and solidarity among our people,” Adiong said.
He emphasized the role Maranaos play in social and economic life in Northern Mindanao, Unabia’s region.
“Meranaws have always felt that Cagayan de Oro City and the Province of Misamis Oriental are their second homes… It cannot be doubted that we Meranaws contribute to the economy of the entire Region 10,” he said.
Adiong urged leaders to own up to their mistakes and pursue peace: “Let us remember to always acknowledge our mistakes, convey our apologies to those we hurt, and choose to live peacefully. For only through peace can we prosper as a nation.”
In Cotabato City, the Bangsamoro regional government denounced Unabia’s remarks, with its spokesman, Mohd Asnin Pendatun, calling the governor’s statement “uncalled for” and urged deeper cultural understanding.
“It reflects the need to engage in a deeper mutual understanding and cultural sensitivity dialogue,” Pendatun said.
He said officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remained committed to peacebuilding and that leaders should serve as “a source of hope, sobriety, and unity amidst the violence and hate being spread around.”
“We hope that the governor will be a partner in this great endeavor,” Pendatun said.
Unabia: No offense meant
Following the backlash, Unabia said his remarks were taken out of context and accused his political opponents of exploiting it.
“We recognize that our words may have been open to various interpretations and could have been perceived as lacking the necessary sensitivity,” Unabia said.
He added, “Unfortunately, my political rivals have capitalized on this and blown my statements out of proportion… It was never our intention to cause offense or to undermine the rich history, identity, and dignity of the Maranao people.”
Unabia said his comments during a campaign sortie were meant to raise concerns about counterfeit money and the arrival of unfamiliar individuals in the area. Still, he acknowledged that even well-meaning messages require careful delivery.
“These are isolated incidents and must never be used to generalize or cast suspicion on an entire group,” he said.
In the statement, he called Maranaos “not just friends, but partners in our shared vision of a just, inclusive, and peaceful Mindanao.”
Unsatisfied
Despite the statement, many, especially Muslims, remained unsatisfied, saying it fell short of addressing the harm caused.
Organized Muslim students from the Cagayan de Oro-based Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan and Liceo de Cagayan University issued separate statements to denounce Unabia’s remarks seen as hate speech.
Not everyone opted for restraint like Adiong and the BARMM regional government. Calls to boycott Unabia’s family businesses, especially the popular Sr. Pedro roasted chicken chain, began circulating in Muslim communities.
The multisectoral One Bangsamoro Movement (1Bangsa) denounced Unabia’s remarks as an attack on the dignity of Muslim Filipinos and a show of disrespect toward the Bangsamoro.
“These remarks belittle our ancestors’ valor and sow division in a nation healing from conflict,” said Maulana Balangi, the group’s national president. “How dare you call yourself an honorable public servant when your words reveal nothing but hatred and contempt?”
1Bangsa demanded a “sincere public apology” from the governor along with a clear plan to support anti-discrimination initiatives, a boycott of his popular roasted chicken business, and a persona non grata declaration from local governments in the BARMM. They also called for a fatwa declaring Unabia’s 2025 candidacy haram, or religiously forbidden under Islamic law.
While a fatwa carries moral weight, its electoral impact may be limited in Misamis Oriental, where Muslims form a small minority. The economic threat, however, is more real – a sustained boycott of Sr. Pedro Lechon Manok, a staple in many households including that of Muslims, could hurt Unabia and his family financially.
Aside from Sr. Pedro, which made Unabia one of the richest governors in Mindanao even before he became a politician, his family also own Amaya View, a popular hilltop resort in Barangay Indahag, Cagayan de Oro. The sprawling property draws tourists and locals with its scenic views, family attractions, and restaurants.
Sexist joke
Unabia has also caught the ire of women’s rights advocates for joking that only beautiful women can receive nursing scholarships from the capitol – he said unattractive nurses could worsen male patients’ conditions during another campaign rally.
“Kining nursing [scholarship], para ra ni sa mga babaye, dili puwede ang lalaki – and, kato pa g’yud mga babaye nga gwapa. Dili man pwede ang maot, kay kung luya na ang mga lalaki, atubangon sa pangit nga nurse, naunsa naman, mosamot atong sakit ana,” he said in jest.
(The nursing scholarship is only for women, not for men – and only for beautiful women. It is not for the ugly because if a male patient who is already weak is attended to by an ugly nurse, what would happen to him? Our illness would worsen.)
Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas frowned on Unabia’s remarks, calling them sexist and discriminatory.
“This is a gross display of misogyny and discrimination. This is outright disrespect, not just to nurses but to all women,” said Brosas, pointing out that nursing is rooted in skill, knowledge, and empathy, and not physical appearance.
She said the problem in the country’s health system is not the physical appearance, but the “ugly” governance and government neglect of the public health sector. – Rappler.com
