Bill of rights

Concept of Bill of Rights (Philippines)

1. 1. CONCEPT OF A BILL OF RIGHTS It is a declaration and enumeration of a person’s 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 6. BASIS AND PURPOSE OF THE RIGHT 1. Right existing in the state of nature. 2. Right
designed to secure enjoyment of one’s private life. RELATIONSHIP WITH RIGHT AGAINST
UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES 1. Aspect of right to be secure in one’s 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 someone’s character, reputation, or business.
7. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 another’s 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 one’s 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. 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. 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. 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.