Governor Peter Unabia Faces Backlash Over BARMM Comments and Issues Apology
PETER UNABIA – The Governor of Misamis Oriental apologized for his controversial remarks about the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
His comments, which linked the region to bombings and suggested that electing Maranao leaders could make local communities unstable, sparked strong reactions. During a campaign event, Unabia implied that local areas could face threats from BARMM if voters chose candidates outside his team.
This led to criticism from BARMM officials, including spokesperson Mohd Asnin Pendatun, who called the comments inappropriate and emphasized the importance of better understanding and communication. Unabia later apologized, stating that he did not mean to offend the Maranao people and blamed his political rivals for stirring up the backlash.
This wasn’t the first time Unabia’s remarks caused controversy. He also faced criticism for a joke about the provincial nursing scholarship program, suggesting that only “beautiful women” should receive the scholarships and that male patients might worsen if treated by “ugly” nurses. The comment was condemned by various groups, including journalist Karen Davila, who criticized the objectification of nurses and pointed out their hard work and expertise. In response, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that it would issue a formal warning to the governor, as his remarks were seen as discriminatory.
Meanwhile, Peter Mamawag Unabia, commonly known as Sr. Pedro, is a Filipino businessman and politician currently serving as the governor of Misamis Oriental since 2022. He previously held the position of vice mayor of Gingoog from 2019 to 2022 and represented Misamis Oriental’s 1st congressional district in the Philippine House of Representatives from 2010 to 2019. Unabia was born on April 29, 1962, in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and is affiliated with the Lakas–CMD political party as of 2022, though he was previously with PDP–Laban and the Liberal Party.