Echoes of Fear: How the Anti-Terror Law Haunts Philippine Democracy

How far should a nation go to defend itself from terror? When the Philippines enacted a law, did it truly fortify our safety, or did it plant the seeds of silence? Can a law meant to stop violence also threaten the critics who speak up? Why do lawyers, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens now warn that a shield against extremists may double as a sword against dissent? And ultimately, if the law that promises security begins to weaken our basic constitutional freedom, who will protect democracy from its protector?