Independent hard-hitting journalism is under threat in the Philippines, where consecutive populist-nationalist governments have used the power of the state to try to harass, silence, and bankrupt a vital newsroom, Rappler, and its courageous CEO, Maria Ressa, for daring to challenge their policies. If public interest, accountability journalism vanishes in the Philippines, it will have a detrimental effect on the future democratic direction of this key U.S. trade and security partner in a critical region of the world.