ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Zamboanga City Council recently declared political analyst Richard Heydarian persona non-grata due to derogatory remarks against Mindanao, particularly a statement comparing Mindanao to sub-Saharan Africa in terms of Human Development Index.
ZAMBOANGA City Council building
The resolution, unanimously approved by the Zamboanga City Council, was authored by Councilor Vincent Paul Elago, who described the statement as disrespectful, offensive, and an insult to Mindanaoans.
“Mr. Heydarian‘s statement of comparison is not factual, and is derogatory, disrespectful of the people of Mindanao who are working hard in promoting the potentials of Mindanao and achieving global competitiveness amidst our diversity,” Elago said, while describing the resolution was also "long overdue."
Zamboanga City was the latest city to declare Heydarian persona non-grata after similar resolutions were passed by the City of Isabela, Basilan and six other cities and municipalities in Mindanao.
"I come from the north of the country where our human development index is almost Southern Europe, but if you go to Mindanao, their human development index is Sub-Saharan Africa," Heydarian said in a television interview.
Heydarian's statement sparked backlash and criticism after it went viral on social media. He has since apologized, saying that he did not mean to insult anyone.