1.

CONCEPT OF A BILL OF RIGHTS 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.
2. STATE AUTHORITY AND INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM 1. State, an instrument to promote
both individual and social welfare. 2. Conflict between individual rights and group
welfare. 3. Balancing of individual and group rights and interests. 4. Role of the
Judiciary. SEC. 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.
MEANING OF DUE PROCESS OF LAWS Any deprivation of life, liberty, or property by
the State is with due process if it is done: 1. Under the authority of the law that is
valid or the Constitution itself; and 2. After compliance with fair and reasonable
methods of procedure required by law. ASPECTS OF DUE PROCESS OF LAW 1.
Procedural due process a. In judicial proceedings a1. An impartial court clothe by
law with authority to hear and determine the matter before it; a2. Jurisdiction
lawfully acquired over the person of the defendant or property which is the subject
matter of the proceeding; a3. Opportunity to be heard given the defendant; and a4.
Judgment to be rendered after lawful hearing. b. In administrative proceedings 1.
Substantive due process a. Thus a tax which is imposed for a private purpose
constitutes a taking of property without due process as it is beyond the authority of
legislature to levy. b. Likewise the taking of property for private use or without
payment of just compensation offends substantive due process. PERSONS
PROTECTED All persons within the territorial Jurisdiction of the Philippines, without
regard to any difference of race, color, or nationality, including aliens. MEANING OF
LIFE Something more than mere animal existence. The prohibition against its
deprivation without due process extends to all the limbs and faculties by which life
is enjoyed. MEANING OF LIBERTY The right of man to use its faculties with which
he has been endowed by his Creator subject only to the limitations that he does not
violate the law or the rights of others. MEANING OF PROPERTY The thing itself or
the right over a thing.
3. WHAT CONSTITUTES DEPRIVATION? 1. Deprivation of life the loss of any of the
various physical and mental attributes which man must have to live as a human
being. It is the very foundation of human rights. 2. Deprivation of liberty that one
is unduly prevented from acting the way he wishes to do. 3. Deprivation of property
when its value is destroyed or its adaptability to some particular use or its
capability for enjoyment is impaired. A. MEANING OF EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE
LAW signifies that all persons subject to legislation should be treated alike under
circumstances and conditions both in the privileges conferred and liabilities
imposed. B. REASONABLE CLASSIFICATION PERMITTED 1. Foreign corporations are
made to pay higher amount of taxes than that paid by domestic corporations. 2.
Certain professions are limited to persons of the male sex. 3. Certain privileges for
leaves and shorter hours of labor extended o women are not extended to men. 4.
Preference is given to Filipino citizens in the lease of public market stalls. 5.
Different professions are taxed at different amount. 6. Employment in factories of
children under designated ages is prohibited. C. SCOPE OF THE GUARANTEE 1. The
guarantee of equal protection (and due process of law) on all the organs of
government and all the subordinate instrumentalities and subdivisions thereof, and
on the three inherent powers of government. 2. The guarantee is available to all
persons. 3. It does not extend to rights which are political. 4. It is not also intended
to enforce social equality. SEC. 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. A. MEANING OF SEARCH
WARRANT AND WARRANT OF ARREST 1. Search warrant an order in writing, issued
in the name of the People of the Philippines, signed by a judge and directed to a
peace officer, commanding him to search for a certain personal property and bring
it before the court. 2. Warrant of arrest a written order to arrest a person
designated to take him in custody in order that he may be bound to answer for the
commission of an offense.
4. B. SCOPE OF PROTECTION 1. Persons applies to every citizen of the Philippines
including aliens whether accused of crime or not. 2. Houses not limited to dwelling
houses but extends to a garage, warehouse, shop, store, office and even a safety
deposit vault. 3. Papers and effect include sealed letters and packages in the mail
which may be opened and examined only in pursuance of a valid search warrant. C.
WHEN SEARCH AND SEIZURE UNREASONABLE In general, all illegal searches and
seizures are unreasonable while lawful ones are reasonable. D. REQUISITES FOR
VALID SEARCH WARRANT OR WARRANT OF ARREST 1. Issued upon probable cause.
2. The probable cause must be determined personally by the judge himself. 3. Such
determination of the existence of probable cause must be made after examination
by the judge of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce. 4. Must
particularly describe the place to be searched and the persons or things to be
seized. E. MEANING OF PROBABLE CAUSE such facts and circumstances
antecedent to the issuance of a warrant sufficient in themselves to induce cautious
man to rely upon them and act in pursuance thereof. F. SUFFICIENCY OF AFFIDAVIT
UPON WHICH WARRANT IS BASED 1. Test of sufficiency affidavit the true test of
sufficiency of an affidavit to warrant issuance to a search warrant is whether it had
been drawn in a manner that perjury could be charged thereon and affiant be held
liable for damages caused in case his declaration are found to be false. 2. Basis of
affidavit must be based on personal knowledge or information. G. SUFFICIENCY OF
DESCRIPTION 1. Place A description of the place to be searched is sufficient if the
officer wi th a search warrant can, with reasonable effort, ascertain and identify the
place intended. 2. Person As a rule, a warrant of arrest for the apprehension of an
unnamed party upon whom it is to be served is void except those cases where it
contains a description of the person or such as will enable the officer to identify the
accused. 3. Property is required to be specific only in so far as the circumstances
will ordinarily allow.
5. H. RIGHT AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE, PERSONAL 1. Proper
party to invoke right the legality of search and seizure can be contested only by
the party whose personal rights were involved. 2. Right subject to waver Without
proper search warrant, no public official has the right to enter the premises of
another without his consent for the purpose of search and seizure. I. WHEN SEARCH
AND SEIZURE MAY BE MADE WITHOUT WARRANT 1. Where there is consent or
waiver. 2. Where search is an incident to a lawful arrest. 3. In the case of
contraband or forfeited goods being transported. 4. The possession of articles
prohibited by law is disclosed to plain view or is open to eye and hand. 5. As an
incident of inspection, supervision and regulation in the exercise of police power. 6.
Routinary searches usually made at the border or at ports of entry in the interest of
national security and for proper enforcement or customs and immigration laws J.
WHEN ARREST MAY BE MADE WITHOUT WARRANT 1. When, in his presence, the
person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to
commit an offense. 2. When an offense has in fact just been committed and has
been personal knowledge of facts indicating that a person to be arrested has
committed it. 3. When a person to be arrested is a prisoner who has escaped from a
penal establishment where he is serving final judgment or temporarily confined
while his case is pending, or has escaped while being transferred. SEC. 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. MEANING OF RIGHT
OF PRIVACY The right to be left alone.
6. BASIS AND PURPOSE OF THE RIGHT 1. Right existing in the state of nature. 2.
Right designed to secure enjoyment of ones private life. RELATIONSHIP WITH RIGHT
AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES 1. Aspect of right to be secure
in ones person. 2. Privacy of communication and correspondence LIMITATIONS ON
THE RIGHT OF PRIVACY OF COMMUNICATIONS 1. Permissible interference. a. Upon
lawful order of the court; or b. When public safety or order requires otherwise as
prescribed by law. 2. Intervention of the court. EVIDENCE ILLEGALLY OBTAINED 1.
Inadmissible any evidence obtained in violation of the right against unreasonable
search and seizures and the right to privacy and communication. 2. Reason its
exclusion is the only practical way of enforcing the constitutional guarantees. 3.
Right of owner the owner has the right that the articles seized be returned.
MEANING OF WRIT OF HABEAS DATA is a judicial remedy available to any
individual whose right to privacy in life, liberty, or security is violated or threatened
by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee or of a private
individual or entity engaged in gathering, collecting, or storing of data or
information regarding the person, family, home, and correspondence of the
aggrieved party. A. PURPOSE OF THE WRIT to secure the privacy of an individual
by way of regulating the processing of personal information or data about him. B.
HOW WRIT OPERATES Any aggrieved party may file a petition in court for the writ
of habeas data. The court shall issue the writ which shall be served upon the
respondent who shall file a written return under oath with supporting affidavits. SEC.
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. MEANING OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND EXPRESSION,
AND OF THE PRESS The right to freely utter and publish whatever one pleases
without previous restraint, and to be protected against any responsibility for so
doing as long as it does not violate the law, or injure someones character,
reputation, or business.
7. A. SCOPE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION the rights of assembly and petition, the
right to form associations or societies not contrary to the law, and the right to
religious freedom. B. SCOPE OF TERMS SPEECH, EXPRESSION, AND PRESS 1.
Speech and expression cover any form of oral utterances such as protests as
expression of opinion about subjects of public concern. 2. The press covers any
sort of publications as instruments for mass communication. C. IMPORTANCE OF THE
GUARANTEE 1. Promotes growth of the individual and the nation. 2. Makes possible
scrutiny of acts and conduct of public officials. 3. Insures a responsive and popular
government. D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION NOT ABSOLUTE 1. Subject to regulation
by the state. 2. Subject one to liability when abused. E. JUSTIFICATION FOR
ABRIDGMENT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OF THE PRESS 1. Clear and present
danger rule. 2. Application of rule. F. MEANING OF RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY AND RIGHT
OF PETITION 1. The right of assembly means the right on the part of the citizens to
meet peaceably for consultation in respect to public affairs. 2. The right of petition
means the right of any person or group of persons, to apply without fear of penalty
to the appropriate branch or office of government for redress of grievances. G.
RELATIONSHIP WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OF THE PRESS 1. Complement of
right of free speech. 2. Application of clear and present danger rule. SEC. 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. MEANING OF
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM - The right of a man to worship God, and to entertain such
religious views as appeal to his individual conscience, without dictation or
interference by any person or power, civil or ecclesiastical.
8. MEANING OF RELIGION all forms of belief in the existence of superior beings
exercising power over human beings and imposing rules of conduct with future
state of rewards or punishments. ASPECTS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 1. The
separation of Church and State. 2. The freedom of religious profession and worship.
FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS PROFESSION AND WORSHIP 1. Freedom to believe in a
religion. 2. Freedom to act in accordance with such belief. RIGHT TO DISSEMINATE
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS 1. Relationship with right to believe. 2. Justification for restraint
of right. LICENSE FEE OR TAX ON SALE OF RELIGIOUS ARTICLES 1. Permission or
condition for exercise of right. 2. Imposition of financial burden after exercise of
right. RELIGIOUS TEST PROHIBITED 1. Meaning of terms a. A religious test is one
demanding the avowal or repudiation of a certain religious beliefs before the
performance of any act. b. The expression of civil political rights (supra) is to be
understood as including the individual right safeguarded by the Constitution and
statutory laws. REASON FOR PROVISION Without such prohibition, religious
freedom becomes meaningless. The State without such a bar, notwithstanding the
doctrine of its separation from the Church, could in fact accord preference to a
religious organization. SEC. 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. MEANING OF
LIBERTY OF ABODE AND TRAVEL It is the right of a person to have his home in
whatever place chosen by him and thereafter to change it at will, and to go where
he pleases, without interference of any source.
9. LIMITATIONS ON THE RIGHT 1. Permissible interference. The right is qualified by
the clauses except upon lawful order of the court and except in the interest of
the national security, and public safety or public health as may be provided by law.
2. Intervention of the court. Note that under the second limitation, a court order is
not necessary. The determination of the proper executive officer (President) is
subject to judicial reviews. A person whose liberty of abode is violated may petition
for a writ of habeas corpus against another holding him in detention. SEC. 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. Right to Information on matters of Public Concern 1. Access to
official records for exercise of right. 2. Arguments in support of right. 3.
Constitutionally or validity of implementing law. Scope of the Right 1. The right
embraces all public records. 2. It is limited to citizens only but is without prejudice
to the right of aliens to have access to records of cases where they are litigants; and
3. Its exercise is subject to such limitations as may be provided by law. A.
Limitations on the Right. 1. Public records excepted. 2. Burden on government to
justify withholding of information. SEC. 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. MEANING OF RIGHT TO FORM
ASSOCIATIONS - is the freedom to organize or to be a member of any group or
association, union, or society, and to adopt the rules which the members judge
most appropriate to achieve their purpose.
10. PURPOSE OF GUARANTEE 1. Undoubtedly, the purpose of the constitutional
guarantee is to encourage the formation of voluntary associations so that through
the cooperative activities of individuals, the welfare of the nation may be advance
and the government may there by receive assistance in its ever-increasing public
service activities. 2. By enabling individuals to unite in the performance of tasks,
which singly they would be unable to accomplish, such associations relieve the
government of a vast burden. SEC. 9: Private property shall not be taken for public
use without just compensation. Essential or inherent powers of government 1.
Totality of governmental power - It is contained in three (3) great powers, namely:
power of eminent domain, police power, and power of taxation. 2. Similarities -
These powers are similar in the following respects: a. They all rest upon necessity
because there can be no effective government without them; b. They are inherent in
sovereignty; hence, they can be exercised even without being expressly granted in
the Constitution although the conditions for their exercise may be regulated and
limited by the Constitution and bylaw; c. They are ways by which the State
interferes with private rights and property; d. They are all legislative in character;
and e. They all presuppose an equivalent compensation received, directly or
indirectly, by the person affected by the exercise of these powers by the
government. Meaning of Eminent Domain - is the right or power of the State or of
those to whom the power has been lawfully delegated to take private property for
public use upon paying to the owner a just compensation to be ascertained
according to law. Conditions for or limitations upon its exercise 1. Existence of public
use. 2. Payment of just compensation. 3. Observance of due process of law in the
taking. Meaning of taking 1. Actual physical seizure not essential. 2. The taking
must be direct. Meaning of Police Power - has been referred to as the power of the
State to enact such laws or regulations in relation to persons and property as my
promote public health, public morals, public safety, and the general welfare and
convince of the people.
11. Basis of police power Based on two Latin maxims, salus populi suprema est lex
(the welfare of the people is the supreme law), and sic utere tuo ut alienum non
laedas (so use your own as not to injure anothers property) A. Police power laws. 1.
Public health 2. Public morals 3. Public safety 4. Public welfare and convenience
Meaning of taxation - is the power of the state to impose charge or burden upon
persons, property, or property rights, for the use and support of the government
and to enable it to discharge its appropriate functions. Theory and basis of taxation
1. The power of taxation proceeds upon the theory that the existence of
government is a necessity that it cannot continue without means to pay its
expenses, and that for these means it has a right to compel all its citizens and
property within its limits to contribute. 2. The basis of taxation is found in the
reciprocal duties of protection and support between the State and its inhabitants.
Meaning of taxes - are the enforced proportional contributions from persons and
property levied by the lawmaking body of the State by virtue of its sovereignty for
the support of the government and all public needs. Distinctions among the three
powers 1. As to authority which exercises the power. 2. As to purpose. 3. As to
effect. 4. As to persons affected. 5. As to benefits received. SEC. 10: No law
impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed. Meaning of obligation of a
contract - is the law or duty which binds the parties to perform their agreement
according to its terms or intent, if it is not contrary to law, morals, good customs,
public order, or public policy.
12. Scope of terms law and contract 1. The law, the enactment of which is
prohibited, includes executive and administrative orders of the President,
administrative orders issued by heads of departments, and ordinance enacted by
local governments. 2. The contract, the obligation of which is secured against
impairment under the Constitution, includes contracts entered into by the
government. Purpose of non-impairment prohibition The prohibition is intended to
protect creditors, to assure the fulfillment of lawful promises, and to guard the
integrity of contractual obligations. Freedom to contract not absolute The freedom
of contract is necessarily limited by the exercise of the police power of the State in
the interest of general welfare and especially in view of the explicit provisions in the
Constitution with reference to the promotion of social justice. SEC. 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. Constitutional rights of the accused in
criminal cases 1. The right to adequate legal assistance. 2. The right, when under
investigation for the commission of an offense to be informed of his right to remain
silent and to have counsel. 3. The right against the use of torture, force, violence,
threat, intimidation or any other means which vitiates the free will. 4. The right
against being held in secret, incommunicado, or similar forms of solitary detention.
5. The right to bail and against excessive bail. 6. The right to due process of law. 7.
The right to presumption of innocence. 8. The right to be heard by himself and
counsel. 9. The right to be performed of the nature and cause of the accusation
against him. 10. The right to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial. 11. The
rights to meet the witnesses face to face. 12. The right to have compulsory process
to secure the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence in his behalf.
13. The right against self-incrimination. 14. The right against detention by reason of
political beliefs and aspirations. 15. The right against excessive fines. 16. The right
against cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment. 17. The right against infliction of
the death penalty except for heinous crimes; and 18. The right against double
jeopardy.
13. Reasons for constitutional safeguards 1. A criminal case, an unequal contest. 2.
Criminal accusation, a very serious matter. 3. Protection of innocent, the underlying
purpose. A. Right to free access to the courts of quasi-judicial bodies. B. Right to
adequate legal assistance. SEC. 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 1. To be informed of his right to remain silent. 2. To have competent
and independent counsel preferably of his own choice or to be provided with one. 3.
Against the use of torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation or any other means
which vitiates the free will. 4. Against being held in secret, incommunicado, or
similar forms of solitary detention. 1. Effect of violation of the rights. 2. When rights
can be invoked. 3. Waiver of right of silence and to counsel. SEC. 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.
14. MEANING OF BAIL - is the security required by a court and given for the
provisional or temporary release of a person who is in the custody of the law
conditioned upon his appearance before any court as required under the conditions
specified. Purpose and form of Bail 1. The purpose of requiring bail is to relieve the
accused from imprisonment until his conviction and yet secure his appearance at
the trials. 2. It may be in the form of cash deposit, property bond, bond secured
from a surety company, or recognizance. MEANING OF CAPITAL OFFENSE - for
purposes of the above provision, is an offense which, under the law existing at the
time of its commissions, and at the time f the application to be admitted to bail,
may be punished with reclusion perpetua, life imprisonment, or death. SEC. 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. SEC. 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. Meaning of writ of habeas corpus The writ of habeas
corpus is an order issued by a court of competent of jurisdiction, directed to the
person detaining another, commanding him to produce the body of the prisoner at a
designated time and place, and to show sufficient cause for holding I custody the
individual so detained. Purpose of the writ It has for its purpose to inquire into all
manner of involuntary restraint or detention as distinguished from voluntary and to
relieve a person there from if such restraint i s found illegal. The writ is the proper
remedy court to release y in each and every case of detention without legal cause
or authority. Its principal purpose then is to set the individual liberty. How writ
operates The writ is the order from the court requiring a person detaining another to
show cause for the detention, while the privilege of the writ is the further order from
the court to release an individual if it finds his detention without legal cause or
authority.
15. This is how the writ of habeas corpus operates to safeguard the liberty of a
person. The prisoner or any person in his behalf petitions the proper court, which
immediately issues the writ. It is sent to the person having another in his custody.
Such person is ordered to produce the prisoner in court at specified time together
with an explanation of the cause of detention, called the return. After the order is
obeyed, the judge scrutinizes the return and then decides whether it shows that
imprisonment is authorized by law. If so, the prisoner is remanded-sent back
custody. If, not he is set free at once by the judge. Suspension of the privilege of the
writ The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus (not the writ itself) may be
suspended by the president (Art. VII, Sec 18) in case only of invasion or rebellion,
when public safety requires it. Consequently, the person under detention by the
government may not obtain his liberty by its use. While the person detained must
still be produced in court, the official or person detaining him may ask the court not
to continue the proceeding any further as the privilege of the writ as to that
particular person seeking release has been suspended. Unlike cases where the
privilege of the writ is available and in full force and effect, the judge thus may be
prevented in the event of suspension from determining whether or not the
detention is authorized by law. But the Supreme Court is empowered to inquire, in
an appropriate proceeding filed by any citizen, whether or not there was factual
basis to justify the suspension by the president of the privilege. The suspension of
privilege of the writ enables the State to hold in preventive imprisonment pending
investigation and trial of persons who plot against it or commit acts that endanger
its very existence (see Sec 13). Thus, the suspension in effect, sanctions are allows
arrest and seizures without warrants issued by courts. This topic is further discussed
under Article VII (Executive Department), Sec 18. Writ of Amparo The writ of habeas
corpus is not to be confused with the writ of Amparo. Now, families of victims of
extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances (or any qualified person or entity)
can invoke the writ when the right to life, liberty, or security of a person is violated
or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or
employee or of a private individual or entity. This special writ prohibits respondents
(those required to answer or respond to the complaint against them) from using the
defense of simple denial. They will have to produce documents or evidence to
support claims that they did not violates the right to life, liberty and security of the
aggrieved party. Even before a petition for this writ is resolved, the court may issue
any of the following orders to safeguard ones right to life, liberty and security:
temporary protection order to secure the safety of the aggrieved party and any
member of the immediate family; inspection order for the purpose of inspecting,
measuring, surveying or photographing property or operation thereof; production
order requiring the production of designated documents, papers, etc. and witness
protection order for admission of witness to the Witness Protection, Security and
Benefit Program.
16. SEC. 16: All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases
before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies. Right to speedy
disposition of cases (1) The above provision upholds the time-honored tradition of
speedy justice for as stated in the old dictum - "Justice delayed is justice denied." Its
express inclusion was in response to the common charge against the perennial
delay in the administration of justice which in the past has plagued our judicial
system. (2) The right to a speedy disposition of cases can be invoked only after the
termination of the trial or hearing of case. (3) Under the present Constitution, the
Supreme Court, all lowers delegate courts, and all other lower courts are required to
decide or resolve cases within a certain period of time. (4) The provision
contemplates the disposition of cases involving private interests not only before
judicial bodies, but also before quasi-judicial. SEC. 17: No person shall be compelled
to be a witness against himself. Right against self-incrimination No person shall be
compelled to be a witness against himself. This is a protection against self-
incrimination which may expose a person to a criminal liability. It is founded on
grounds of: (1) Public Policy, because if the party is thus required to testify he would
be placed under the strongest temptation to commit the crime of perjury; and (2)
Humanity, because it prevents the extortion of confession by duress. The
constitutional guarantee protects as well the right of the accused to silence, and his
silence, meaning, his failure or refusal to testify may not be used as presumption of
guilt or taken as evidence against him. Scope of Guarantee The right against self-
incrimination applies in criminal cases as well as in civil, administrative, and
legislative proceeding where the fact asked for is a criminal one. It protects one
whether he is a party or a witness. SEC. 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. RIGHT AGAINST DETENTION SOLELY BY REASON OF POLITICAL
BELIEFS AND ASPIRATIONS 1. Incarceration without charges of political prisoners.
2. Suspension of privilege of writ of habeas corpus even after lifting of martial law.
17. 3. Prohibition a guarantee against having prisoners of conscience. MEANING
OF INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE A condition of enforced, compulsory service of one
to another. It includes: Slavery Peonage EXCEPTIONS OF PROHIBITIONS 1.
When the involuntary servitude is imposed as a punishment for a crime. 2. When
personal military or civil service is required of citizens. 3. To injunctions requiring
striking laborers to return to work. 4. To exceptional service. 5. To exercise by
parents of their authority. 6. When there is a proper exercise of the police power of
the State. SEC. 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. SEC. 20: No person shall be
imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax. MEANING OF DEBT - as intended
to be covered by the constitutional guarantee, means any liability to pay money
arising out of a contract, express or implied. MEANING OF POLL TAXES - is a tax of a
fixed amount imposed on individuals residing within a specified territory, whether
citizens or not, without regard to their property or the occupation in which they may
be engaged. SEC. 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.
MEANING OF RIGHTS AGAINST DOUBLE JEOPARDY - means that when a person is
charged with an offense and the case is terminated either by acquittal or conviction
or in any other manner without the express consent of the accused, the latter
cannot again be charged with the same or identical offense.
18. SEC. 22: No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted. MEANING OF
EX POST FACTO LAW Makes an act done before the passage of the law ,innocent
when done, criminal, and punishes such act; or Aggravates a crime or makes it
greater than when it was committed; or Changes the punishment and inflicts a
greater punishment than what a law annexed to the crime when committed; or
Alters the legal rules of evidence, and receives less testimony than or different
testimony from what the law required at the time of the commission of the offense,
in order to convict the offender. CHARACTERISTIC OF EX POST FACTO LAW They are:
Ex post facto laws relate to penal or criminal matters only. They are
retroactive in their operation; and They are deprive persons accused of crime of
some protection or defense previously available, to their disadvantage. MEANING OF
BILL OF ATTAINDER - is a legislative act which inflicts punishment without judicial
trial.