What’s behind the calls for Mindanao to secede from the Philippines?
Analysts say the secession calls exploit real frustrations to promote the political interests of former president Rodrigo Duterte
Observers say the renewed push, amplified by the ex-president’s allies and a network of online influencers, appears aimed at deflecting attention from corruption scandals and an ongoing International Criminal Court investigation into Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, while shoring up support among his family’s base.
The latest controversy stems from a video posted over the weekend by Cavite congressman Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga, in which he called for Mindanao – home to Davao City and the Duterte clan’s political stronghold – to secede from what he described as a corrupt and Manila-centric government.
Barzaga argued that Mindanao’s interests “should not be ignored or considered ‘less important’” than those of Metro Manila and Luzon island, accusing the “corrupt national government” of siphoning taxes from the south to benefit politicians on the larger island.
Yet, the 27-year-old lawmaker, known for his inflammatory rhetoric and penchant for posting cat memes, does not hail from Mindanao. He is from Dasmarinas, Cavite, a province on Luzon island where his family has deep political roots.