Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia apologized for his anti-Muslim remarks during a closed-door meeting on Monday at the Archbishop’s House in Cagayan de Oro, attended by bishops and imams from the Cagayan de Oro Interfaith Forum for Peace, Harmony, and Solidarity. Despite the handshake signaling the end of the controversy, some Muslim groups, including the One Bangsamoro Movement, argued the apology was insufficient and excluded other Muslim communities. Ustadz Aliasa Alinog, lawyers Mohammad Hussein Lucman and Alama Pangandaman-Pumbaya, and Jamaloddin Muti were among the Muslim leaders present. However, groups from Lanao del Sur expressed dissatisfaction, claiming they were not consulted. One Bangsamoro Movement President Maulana Balangi called for continued boycotts of Unabia’s business and urged Muslim voters not to support him. Young lawyers in Lanao del Sur are considering legal action, while the Commission on Elections has ordered Unabia to respond to a potential disqualification case within three days.
