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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.
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.
(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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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