BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 1. No person shall be deprived of except upon lawful order of the court.
life, liberty, or property without due process Neither shall the right to travel be impaired
of law, nor shall any person be denied the except in the interest of national security,
equal protection of the laws. public safety, or public health, as may be
provided by law.
Section 2. The right of the people to be
secure in their persons, houses, papers, Section 7. The right of the people to
and effects against unreasonable searches information on matters of public concern
and seizures of whatever nature and for any shall be recognized. Access to official
purpose shall be inviolable, and no search records, and to documents and papers
warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue pertaining to official acts, transactions, or
except upon probable cause to be decisions, as well as to government
determined personally by the judge after research data used as basis for policy
examination under oath or affirmation of the development, shall be afforded the citizen,
complainant and the witnesses he may subject to such limitations as may be
produce, and particularly describing the provided by law.
place to be searched and the persons or
things to be seized. Section 8. The right of the people, including
those employed in the public and private
Section 3. (1) The privacy of communication sectors, to form unions, associations, or
and correspondence shall be inviolable societies for purposes not contrary to law
except upon lawful order of the court, or shall not be abridged.
when public safety or order requires
otherwise, as prescribed by law. Section 9. Private property shall not be
taken for public use without just
(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this compensation.
or the preceding section shall be
inadmissible for any purpose in any Section 10. No law impairing the obligation
proceeding. of contracts shall be passed.

Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging Section 11. Free access to the courts and
the freedom of speech, of expression, or of quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal
the press, or the right of the people assistance shall not be denied to any
peaceably to assemble and petition the person by reason of poverty.
government for redress of grievances.
Section 12. (1) Any person under
Section 5. No law shall be made respecting investigation for the commission of an
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting offense shall have the right to be informed
the free exercise thereof. The free exercise of his right to remain silent and to have
and enjoyment of religious profession and competent and independent counsel
worship, without discrimination or preferably of his own choice. If the person
preference, shall forever be allowed. No cannot afford the services of counsel, he
religious test shall be required for the must be provided with one. These rights
exercise of civil or political rights. cannot be waived except in writing and in
the presence of counsel.
Section 6. The liberty of abode and of
changing the same within the limits (2) No torture, force, violence, threat,
prescribed by law shall not be impaired intimidation, or any other means which
vitiate the free will shall be used against Section 16. All persons shall have the right
him. Secret detention places, solitary, to a speedy disposition of their cases before
incommunicado, or other similar forms of all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative
detention are prohibited. bodies.

(3) Any confession or admission obtained in Section 17. No person shall be compelled to
violation of this or Section 17 hereof shall be be a witness against himself.
inadmissible in evidence against him.
Section 18. (1) No person shall be detained
(4) The law shall provide for penal and civil solely by reason of his political beliefs and
sanctions for violations of this section as aspirations.
well as compensation to and rehabilitation
of victims of torture or similar practices, and (2) No involuntary servitude in any form
their families. shall exist except as a punishment for a
crime whereof the party shall have been
Section 13. All persons, except those duly convicted.
charged with offenses punishable by
reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is Section 19. (1) Excessive fines shall not be
strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman
by sufficient sureties, or be released on punishment inflicted. Neither shall the death
recognizance as may be provided by law. penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling
The right to bail shall not be impaired even reasons involving heinous crimes, the
when the privilege of the writ of habeas Congress hereafter provides for it. Any
corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall death penalty already imposed shall be
not be required. reduced to reclusion perpetua.

Section 14. (1) No person shall be held to (2) The employment of physical,
answer for a criminal offense without due psychological, or degrading punishment
process of law. against any prisoner or detainee or the use
of substandard or inadequate penal facilities
(2) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused under subhuman conditions shall be dealt
shall be presumed innocent until the with by law.
contrary is proved, and shall enjoy the right
to be heard by himself and counsel, to be Section 20. No person shall be imprisoned
informed of the nature and cause of the for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.
accusation against him, to have a speedy,
impartial, and public trial, to meet the Section 21. No person shall be twice put in
witnesses face to face, and to have jeopardy of punishment for the same
compulsory process to secure the offense. If an act is punished by a law and
attendance of witnesses and the production an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under
of evidence in his behalf. However, after either shall constitute a bar to another
arraignment, trial may proceed prosecution for the same act.
notwithstanding the absence of the accused
provided that he has been duly notified and Section 22. No ex post facto law or bill of
his failure to appear is unjustifiable. attainder shall be enacted.

Section 15. The privilege of the writ of