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BILL OF RIGHTS
Principles
SEC. 1.
No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property
without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied
the equal protection of the laws.
SEC. 2.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches
and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be
inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall
issue except upon probable cause to be determined personally
by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of
the complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and
particularly describing the place to be searched and the
persons or things to be seized.
SEC. 3.
(1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be
inviolable except upon lawful order of the court, or when
public safety or order requires otherwise as prescribed by
law.
(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the
preceding section shall be inadmissible for any purpose in
any proceeding.
SEC. 4.
No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of
expression, or of the press, or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble and petition the Government for
redress of grievances.
SEC. 5.
No law shall be made respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free
exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship,
without discrimination or preference, shall forever be
allowed. No religious test shall be required for the
exercise of civil or political rights.
SEC. 6.
The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the
limits prescribed by law shall not be impaired except upon
lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right to travel
be impaired except in the interest of national security,
public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.
SEC. 7.
The right of the people to information on matters of public
concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and
to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts,
transactions, or decisions, as well as to government
research data used as basis for policy development, shall be
afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be
provided by law.
SEC. 8.
The right of the people, including those employed in the
public and private sectors, to form unions, associations, or
societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be
abridged.
SEC. 9.
Private property shall not be taken for public use without
just compensation.
SEC. 10.
No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be
passed.
SEC. 11.
Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and
adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person
by reason of poverty.
SEC. 12.
(1) Any person under investigation for the commission of an
offense shall have the right to be informed of his right to
remain silent and to have competent and independent counsel
preferably of his own choice. If the person cannot afford
the services of counsel, he must be provided with one. These
rights cannot be waived except in writing and in the
presence of counsel.
(2) No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or
any other means which vitiate the free will shall be used
against him. Secret detention places, solitary,
incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention are
prohibited.
(3) Any confession or admission obtained in violation of
this or Section 17 hereof shall be inadmissible in evidence
against him.
(4) The law shall provide for penal and civil sanctions for
violations of this section as well as compensation to and
rehabilitation of victims of torture or similar practices,
and their families.
SEC. 13.
All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable
by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is strong,
shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient
sureties, or be released on recognizance as may be provided
by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even when
the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended.
Excessive bail shall not be required.
SEC. 14.
(1) No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense
without due process of law.
(2) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be
presumed innocent until the contrary is proved, and shall
enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be
informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against
him, to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial, to meet
the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process
to secure the attendance of witnesses and the production of
evidence in his behalf. However, after arraignment, trial
may proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused
provided that he has been duly notified and his failure to
appear is unjustifiable.
SEC. 15.
he privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be
suspended except in cases of invasion or rebellion when the
public safety requires it.
SEC. 16.
All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of
their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or
administrative bodies.
SEC. 17.
No person shall be compelled to be a witness against
himself.
SEC. 18.
(1) No person shall be detained solely by reason of his
political beliefs and aspirations.
(2) No involuntary servitude in any from shall exist except
as punishment for a crime whereof the party shall be duly
convicted.
SEC. 19.
(1) Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel,
degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted. Neither shall
death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons
involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides
for it. Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced
to reclusion perpetua.
(2) The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading
punishment against any prisoner or detainee or the use of
substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman
conditions shall be dealt with by law.
SEC. 20.
No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a
poll tax.
SEC. 21.
No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for
the same offense. If an act is punished by a law and an
ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall
constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same act.
SEC. 22.
No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted. |
