ARTICLE III Section 8.

The right of the people, including

BILL OF RIGHTS 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 1. No person shall be deprived of life,
liberty, or property without due process of law, Section 9. Private property shall not be taken
nor shall any person be denied the equal for public use without just compensation.
protection of the laws.
Section 10. No law impairing the obligation of
Section 2. The right of the people to be secure contracts shall be passed.
in their persons, houses, papers, and effects
against unreasonable searches and seizures of Section 11. Free access to the courts and
whatever nature and for any purpose shall be quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal
inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of assistance shall not be denied to any person
arrest shall issue except upon probable cause by reason of poverty.
to be determined personally by the judge after
examination under oath or affirmation of the Section 12.
complainant and the witnesses he may
produce, and particularly describing the place 1. Any person under investigation for the
to be searched and the persons or things to be commission of an offense shall have the
seized. right to be informed of his right to remain
silent and to have competent and
Section 3. independent counsel preferably of his
own choice. If the person cannot afford
1. The privacy of communication and the services of counsel, he must be
correspondence shall be inviolable provided with one. These rights cannot
except upon lawful order of the court, or be waived except in writing and in the
when public safety or order requires presence of counsel.
otherwise, as prescribed by law. 2. No torture, force, violence, threat,
2. Any evidence obtained in violation of intimidation, or any other means which
this or the preceding section shall be vitiate the free will shall be used against
inadmissible for any purpose in any him. Secret detention places, solitary,
proceeding. incommunicado, or other similar forms
of detention are prohibited.
Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging 3. Any confession or admission obtained in
the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the violation of this or Section 17 hereof
press, or the right of the people peaceably to shall be inadmissible in evidence
assemble and petition the government for against him.
redress of grievances. 4. The law shall provide for penal and civil
sanctions for violations of this Section as
Section 5. No law shall be made respecting an well as compensation to the
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free rehabilitation of victims of torture or
exercise thereof. The free exercise and similar practices, and their families.
enjoyment of religious profession and worship,
without discrimination or preference, shall Section 13. All persons, except those charged
forever be allowed. No religious test shall be with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua
required for the exercise of civil or political when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before
rights. conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, or
be released on recognizance as may be
Section 6. The liberty of abode and of provided by law. The right to bail shall not be
changing the same within the limits prescribed impaired even when the privilege of the writ of
by law shall not be impaired except upon lawful habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail
order of the court. Neither shall the right to shall not be required.
travel be impaired except in the interest of
national security, public safety, or public health, Section 14.
as may be provided by law.
1. No person shall be held to answer for a
Section 7. The right of the people to criminal offense without due process of
information on matters of public concern shall law.
be recognized. Access to official records, and 2. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused
to documents and papers pertaining to official shall be presumed innocent until the
acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to contrary is proved, and shall enjoy the
government research data used as basis for right to be heard by himself and counsel,
policy development, shall be afforded the to be informed of the nature and cause
citizen, subject to such limitations as may be of the accusation against him, to have a
provided by law. 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 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.