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.Freedom of Speech
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.
