ARTICLE III

Bill of Rights
1987 Constitution
It is a declaration and enumeration of a persons rights
and privileges which the Constitution is designed to
protect against violation by the government, or by
individual or groups of individuals. It is a charter of
liberties for the individual and a limitation upon the
power of the State.
 CLASSES OF RIGHTS
1. Natural Rights those possessed by every citizen
without being granted by the State for they are given to
man by God as human being created to His image that
he may live a happy life.

2. Constitutional Rights conferred and protected by

the Constitution.

3. Statutory Rights provided by law, promulgated by

the law-making body and consequently may be
abolished by the same body.
 CLASSIFICATION OF
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
1. Political Rights the power to participate directly or indirectly in
the establishment or administration of the government.

2. Civil Rights a law which secures private individuals for the

purpose of securing enjoyment of their means of happiness.

3. Social and Economic Rights intended to insure the well

being and economic security of an individual.

4. Rights of the Accused intended for the protection of a person

accused of any crime.
 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 whatever 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 witness he may produce
and particularly describing the place to be
searched and the persons or things to be
seized.
 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 the law.

(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of

this or the preceding section shall be
inadmissible for any purpose in any
proceeding.
 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.
 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.
 SECTION 6
The liberty of abode and of changing the
same within the limit prescribed by law
shall not be impaired except upon lawful
order of the court. Neither shall the right to
travel be impaired in the interest of
national security, public safety or public
health, as may be provided by law.
 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 limitations
as maybe provided by law.
 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.
 SECTION 9
Private property shall not be taken for
public use without just compensation.
 SECTION 10
No law impairing the obligation of contracts
shall be passed.
 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.
 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.
(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 the rehabilitation of
victims of torture or similar practices, and their families.
Rights of person under investigation
 SECTION 13
All persons, except those charged with
offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua
when evidence of guilt is strong, shall,
before conviction, be bail able 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.
 SECTION 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.
 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.
 SECTION 16
All persons shall have the right to a speedy
disposition of their cases before all judicial,
quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.
 SECTION 17
No person shall be compelled to be a
witness against himself.
 SECTION 18
(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.
 SECTION 21
No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of
punishment for the same offense. If an act
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.