ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 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.
Section 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.cralaw
Section 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.cralaw
(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding
section shall be inadmissible for any purpose in any proceeding.cralaw
Section 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.cralaw
Section 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.cralaw
Section 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.cralaw
Section 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.cralaw
Section 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.cralaw
Section 9. Private property shall not be taken for public use
without just compensation.cralaw
Section 10. No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall
be passed.cralaw
Section 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.cralaw
Section 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.cralaw
(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.cralaw
(3) Any confession or admission obtained in violation of this or
Section 17 hereof shall be inadmissible in evidence against him.cralaw
(4) The law shall provide for penal and civil sanctions for
violations of this section as well as compensation to the rehabilitation of
victims of torture or similar practices, and their families.cralaw
Section 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.cralaw
Section 14. (1) No person shall be held to answer for a criminal
offense without due process of law.cralaw
(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.cralaw
Section 15. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus
shall not be suspended except in cases of invasion or rebellion, when the
public safety requires it.cralaw
Section 16. All persons shall have the right to a speedy
disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or
administrative bodies.cralaw
Section 17. No person shall be compelled to be a witness against
himself.cralaw
Section 18. (1) No person shall be detained solely by reason of
his political beliefs and aspirations.cralaw
(2) No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a
punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.cralaw
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.cralaw
(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.cralaw
Section 20. No person shall be imprisoned for debt or
non-payment of a poll tax.cralaw
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.cralaw
Section 22. No ex post facto law or
bill of attainder shall be enacted.
