ARTICLE III

BILL OF RIGHTS
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.

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.

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.

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 with 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 o any group or association, union, or society, and to adopt the
rules which the members judge most appropriate to achieve their purpose.
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.

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 injureanother’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.

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.

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.

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 oflaw.
(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 is 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.
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.
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.
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.

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.