Justice Caguioa questions broad powers of anti-terror council Feb 16, 2021 5:56 PM PHT Supreme Court Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa questioned the broad powers of the anti-terror law in his interpellation during Day 3 of oral arguments on Tuesday, February 16. Interpellating 4 counsels during his turn, Caguioa pursued a line of thought that questioned the broad provisions of the anti-terror law, especially the anti-terror council's power to authorize arrest and detention of up to 24 days. Caguioa pointed out that the anti-terror council could effectively issue warrants of arrest even though the Constitution and jurisprudence are clear that only judges – only courts – could issue warrants. "In Salazar vs Achacoso, the Court categorically ruled there that under the 1987 Constitution, only judges and no other may issue warrants of arrest. But here we have Section 29, which grants the anti-terror council, which is not a court, the power to issue a piece of paper that will effect a deprivation of liberty," Caguioa said.