Political analyst Richard Heydarian has been declared "persona non grata" in Isabela City, Basilan, after making controversial remarks comparing Mindanao's Human Development Index (HDI) to that of Sub-Saharan Africa. The city council passed a resolution condemning his statements as "derogatory and disparaging," arguing they show a "profound lack of understanding and respect" for the people of Mindanao.

The CNN interview controversy

Heydarian’s comments were made during a CNN interview discussing the recent arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Titled CNN: Former Philippines President Duterte arrested on ICC warrant, the segment saw Heydarian freely sharing his opinions—until his remarks about Mindanao sparked widespread backlash.

City council takes a stand

The resolution, authored by Isabela City Councilor Abner Rodriguez, asserts that Heydarian’s statements "not only misrepresent the realities of Mindanao but also reinforce harmful stereotypes that undermine the dignity and progress of the region."

While the designation of "persona non grata" carries no legal weight, it serves as a symbolic rejection of Heydarian’s comments and a statement of solidarity among Mindanaoans who found his comparison offensive.

Rodriguez emphasized that Mindanao, including Isabela City, has made significant strides in development despite historical challenges. The council’s move reflects a broader push to counter misrepresentations of the region and advocate for a more accurate and respectful discourse.

Heydarian’s defense and public outrage

In response, Heydarian took to social media to defend himself, claiming his words were taken out of context and that his reference was based on official HDI data. He accused his critics of misrepresenting his statements, writing, “FAKE NEWS po yan… Shame on anyone who has been deliberately twisting my words!”

However, many Mindanaoans were unconvinced. Social media users, after reviewing the interview, pointed out that Heydarian explicitly said, “If you go to Mindanao, their human development index is Sub-Saharan African level.” Commenters noted that his own words, rather than media misrepresentation, were the source of the controversy.

One user remarked, “People are not twisting your words. You did that to yourself. It came straight from your mouth.” Another added, “A simple mea culpa would suffice, but I think the ship has left the port yesterday.”

Writer and poet Alfonso Manalastas from Butuan City took to Facebook to share his thoughts on Heydarian, stating:

"Seriously though, for those who don’t know Heydarian, no self-respecting scholar actually believes in anything he says. He has always been a disgusting pseudo-intellectual careerist who is more preoccupied with the appearance of being intelligent than with the actual labor involved in the pursuit of truth. His attempt to dismiss the backlash as fake news is laughable, considering he said the words himself, and they have not been twisted in any way.”

His post quickly gained traction, receiving hundreds of reactions and comments, with many echoing his sentiments.

Heydarian attempted to defend himself by claiming that he only had a minute to respond to the interviewer’s question. However, viewers noted that the interviewer had to interrupt him to get him to stop talking. He then took 90 seconds to overexplain, veering off-topic by making negative remarks about a location—something entirely unrelated to the original question.

He also stated in what was meant to be an apology video that those who should apologize are the "fake news peddlers" and those who allegedly distorted his words. However, many who listened to the interview accused him of gaslighting. In what some perceived as a classic non-apology, he said: “I apologize if people felt offended based on the fake news they saw about us”—notably referring to himself using the royal “we.”

The broader implications

The backlash highlights the sensitivity surrounding discussions about Mindanao, a region often misrepresented in national and international discourse. Many Filipinos took offense at Heydarian’s remarks, arguing that comparing Mindanao to African nations with low HDI scores ignores the region’s rich culture, resilience, and ongoing progress.

Some commenters also pointed out that the term "Sub-Saharan Africa" itself has colonial and racial implications, historically used to belittle African nations. As one netizen noted, “The term has a racist foundation, and his use of it to describe Mindanao only reinforces his elitist perspective.”

Conclusion

Heydarian’s comments have sparked a larger conversation about how Mindanao is perceived and discussed in national discourse. While he insists his words were misinterpreted, the strong public response—culminating in the Isabela City Council’s resolution—demonstrates that Mindanaoans are no longer willing to tolerate narratives that paint their region in a negative light.