Richard Heydarian is an Asia-based academic, columnist and author of "The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt Against Elite Democracy" and the "The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China and the New Struggle for Global Mastery."
The Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to co-award this year's Peace Prize to Maria Ressa, along with Russian journalist Dmitri A. Muratov, could not have come at a more crucial juncture in Philippine politics as the country heads toward elections that will test the future of its democracy.
