Section 1. No person shall be
deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor
shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2. The right of the
people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects
against
unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any
purpose
shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall
issue
except upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge
after
examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the
witnesses
he may produce, and particularly describing the place to be searched
and
the persons or things to be seized.
Section 3. (1) The privacy
of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon
lawful
order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise,
as prescribed by law.
(2) Any evidence obtained
in violation of this or the preceding section shall be inadmissible for
any purpose in any proceeding.
Section 4. No law shall be
passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press,
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the
government
for redress of grievances.
Section 5. No law shall be
made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise
thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and
worship,
without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No
religious
test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.
Section 6. The liberty of
abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law
shall
not be impaired except upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall
the
right to travel be impaired except in the interest of national
security,
public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.
Section 7. The right of the
people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized.
Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to
official
acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research
data
used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen,
subject
to such limitations as may be provided by law.
Section 8. The right of the
people, including those employed in the public and private sectors, to
form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to
law
shall not be abridged.
Section 9. Private property
shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.
Section 10. No law impairing
the obligation of contracts shall be passed.
Section 11. Free access to
the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance
shall
not be denied to any person by reason of poverty.
Section 12. (1) Any person
under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the
right
to be informed of his right to remain silent and to have competent and
independent counsel preferably of his own choice. If the person cannot
afford the services of counsel, he must be provided with one. These
rights
cannot be waived except in writing and in the presence of counsel.
(2) No torture, force, violence,
threat, intimidation, or any other means which vitiate the free will
shall
be used against him. Secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado,
or other similar forms of detention are prohibited.
(3) Any confession or admission
obtained in violation of this or Section 17 hereof shall be
inadmissible
in evidence against him.
(4) The law shall provide
for penal and civil sanctions for violations of this section as well as
compensation to the rehabilitation of victims of torture or similar
practices,
and their families.
Section 13. All persons,
except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua
when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable
by sufficient sureties, or be released on recognizance as may be
provided
by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even when the privilege
of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall
not be required.
Section 14. (1) No person
shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of
law.
(2) In all criminal prosecutions,
the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved,
and
shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be
informed
of the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a
speedy,
impartial, and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to face, and to
have compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses and the
production
of evidence in his behalf. However, after arraignment, trial may
proceed
notwithstanding the absence of the accused: Provided, that he
has
been duly notified and his failure to appear is unjustifiable.
Section 15. The privilege
of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in
cases
of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it.
Section 16. All persons shall
have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all
judicial,
quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.
Section 17. No person shall
be compelled to be a witness against himself.
Section 18. (1) No person
shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and
aspirations.
(2) No involuntary servitude
in any form shall exist except as a punishment for a crime whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted.
Section 19. (1) Excessive
fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment
inflicted. Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless, for
compelling
reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for
it.
Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced to reclusion
perpetua.
(2) The employment of physical,
psychological, or degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee
or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman
conditions shall be dealt with by law.
Section 20. No person shall
be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.
Section 21. No person shall
be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense. If an act
is punished by a law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under
either
shall constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same act.
Section 22. No ex post
facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.
