Cebu City, Philippines – The internet exploded with reactions when political scientist Richard Heydarian compared Mindanao to Sub-Saharan Africa after former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
The controversy began on March 12 (Philippine time), when CNN News anchor Becky Anderson reported on Duterte’s arrest. According to reports, authorities detained Duterte in Manila and placed him on a plane bound for The Hague, where the ICC is based. His daughter claimed he was “forcibly taken.”
Richard Heydarian, a well-known political analyst and author of The Rise of Duterte, was invited to discuss the political turmoil in the Philippines. During the interview, he compared Duterte’s influence to the “MAGA” movement of former U.S. President Donald Trump. But it was his comments about Mindanao that caught everyone’s attention.
Mindanao vs. Sub-Saharan Africa?
Heydarian described Mindanao as Duterte’s stronghold, often referred to as the “Solid South.” He pointed out that Mindanao has long been one of the poorest regions in the country and suffers from economic disparity compared to other parts of the Philippines.
“Their base of support, first of all, is in the south of the Philippines, the so-called ‘Solid South’ in the Mindanao region, where there is a lot of legitimate grievances against the national government,” Heydarian said. “I mean, it is one of the poorest areas of the country. I come from the north of the country, where our Human Development Index is almost like Southern Europe. But if you go to Mindanao, their Human Development Index is Sub-Saharan African.”
Mindanaoans Clap Back With Memes
His statement sparked immediate backlash, especially among people from Mindanao who found the comparison offensive. But instead of just expressing outrage, Filipinos did what they do best—turn controversy into comedy.
Social media was soon flooded with memes poking fun at the “Sub-Saharan” label. Some users edited maps to place Mindanao in Africa, while others joked about needing a visa to enter Davao. Some of the most viral reactions included:
- “Welcome to Sub-Saharan Mindanao! Please present your passport.”
- “Mindanao now officially part of Wakanda! #WakandaForever”
- “Ganito kami sa Sub-Saharan African level! (This is how we are at Sub-Saharan African level!)”
Heydarian Responds
As the memes continued to spread, Heydarian took to Facebook to clarify his remarks. He insisted that his comments were misinterpreted and that he was actually criticizing the national government for neglecting Mindanao’s development.
“FYI, I CRITICIZED ‘Imperial Manila’ & I 
BEAUTIFUL MINDANAO!! 
STOP LYING, LOWLIFE TROLLS!!!” he wrote in an emotional post.
A Deeper Conversation About Mindanao
Beyond the humor and sarcasm, the debate over Heydarian’s remarks highlights real issues about Mindanao’s economic challenges and how it is perceived in national discussions. While some people focused on the insult, others saw this as a chance to talk about real solutions for development and progress in the region.
So, what do you think? Is the ‘Sub-Saharan’ comparison fair, or is Mindanao being unfairly labeled? Let us know your thoughts
