Philippines' anti-terror Bill stirs fears its powers can be misused to crack down on dissent

The proposed law is said to be a retreat into the "dark days" of martial law. PHOTO: AFP
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MANILA - Early in May, Mr Ronnel Mas, 25, a public school teacher, offered in a post on Twitter a 50 million peso (S$1.4 million) "reward" for President Rodrigo Duterte's "head".

It was a tongue-in-cheek jab at the political inanities he was witnessing. But law enforcers swiftly descended on his home, arrested him without a warrant and took videos of him crying, pleading and begging for Mr Duterte's mercy.

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