ARTICLE III

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