ARTICLE III the people peaceably to assemble and petition the

BILL OF RIGHTS government for redress of grievances.

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