1899 Constitution - Malolos

TITLE IV
THE FILIPINOS AND THEIR NATIONAL
AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

Article 6. The following are Filipinos:

All persons born in the Philippine territory. A vessel of Philippine registry is considered, for this
purpose, as part of Philippine territory.

Children of a Filipino father or mother, although born outside of the Philippines.

Foreigners who have obtained certification of naturalization.

Those who, without such certificate, have acquired a domicile in any town within Philippine territory.

It is understood that domicile is acquired by uninterrupted residence for two years in any locality
within Philippine territory, with an open abode and known occupation, and contributing to all the
taxes imposed by the Nation.

The condition of being a Filipino is lost in accordance with law.

Article 7. No Filipino or foreigner shall be detained nor imprisoned except for the commission of a
crime and in accordance with law.

Article 8. All persons detained shall be discharged or delivered to the judicial authority within 24
hours following the act of detention. All detentions shall be without legal effect, unless the arrested
person is duly prosecuted within 72 hours after delivery to a competent court. The accused shall be
duly notified of such proceeding within the same period.

Article 9. No Filipino shall be imprisoned except by virtue of an order by a competent court. The order
of imprisonment shall be ratified or confirmed within 72 hours following the said order, after the
accused has been heard.

Article 10. No one shall enter the dwelling house of any Filipino or a foreigner residing in the
Philippines without his consent except in urgent cases of fire, inundation, earthquake or similar
dangers, or by reason of unlawful aggression from within, or in order to assist a person therein who
cries for help. Outside of these cases, the entry into the dwelling house of any Filipino or foreign
resident in the Philippines or the search of his papers and effects can only be decreed by a competent
court and executed only in the daytime. The search of papers and effects shall be made always in the
presence of the person searched or of a member of his family and, in their absence, of two witnesses
resident of the same place. However, when a criminal caught in fraganti should take refuge in his
dwelling house, the authorities in pursuit may enter into it, only for the purpose of making an arrest.
If a criminal should take refuge in the dwelling house of a foreigner, the consent of a latter must first
be obtained.

Article 11. No Filipino shall be compelled to change his residence or domicile except by virtue of a
final judgment.
Article 12. In no case may correspondence confided to the post office be detained or opened by
government authorities, nor any telegraphic or telephonic message detained. However, by virtue of a
competent court, correspondence may be detained and opened in the presence of the sender.

Article 13. All orders of imprisonment, of search of a dwelling house, or detention of written
correspondence, telegraph or telephone, must be justified. When an order lacks this requisite, or
when the grounds on which the act was founded is proven in court to be unlawful or manifestly
insufficient, the person to be detained or whose imprisonment has not been ratified within the period
prescribed in Art. 9, or whose correspondence has been detained, shall have the right to recover
damages.

Article 14. No Filipino shall be prosecuted or sentenced, except by a judge or court of proper
jurisdiction and according to the procedure prescribed by law.

Article 15. Except in the cases provided by the Constitution, all persons detained or imprisoned not in
accordance with legal formalities shall be released upon his own petition or upon petition of another
person. The law shall determine the manner of proceeding summarily in this instance, as well as the
personal and pecuniary penalties which shall be imposed upon the person who ordered, executed or
to be executed the illegal detention or imprisonment.

Article 16. No one shall be temporarily or permanently deprived of rights or dstured in his enjoyment
thereof, except by virtue of judicial sentence. The officials who, under any pretext whatsoever, should
violate this provision, shall be personally liable for the damages caused.

Article 17. No one shall be deprived of his property by expropriation except on grounds of public
necessity and benefit, previously declared and justified by proper authorities, and indemnifying the
owner thereof prior to expropriation.

Article 18. No one shall be obliged to pay any public tax which had not been approved by the National
Assembly or by local popular governments legally so authorized, and which is not in the manner
prescribed by the law.

Article 19. No Filipino who is in full enjoyment of his civil or political rights, shall be impeded in the
free exercise of said rights.

Article 20. Neither shall any Filipino be deprived:

Of the right to freely express his ideas or opinions, orally or in writing, through the use of the
press or other similar means.

Of the right of association for purposes of human life and which are not contrary to public
morals; and lastly

Of the right to send petitions to the authorities, individually or collectively.

The right of petition shall not be exercised through any kind of armed force.

Article 21. The exercise of the rights provided for in the preceding article shall be subject to general
provisions regulating the same.

Article 22. Crimes committed on the occasion of the exercise of rights provided for in this title, shall
be punished by the courts in accordance with the laws.

Article 23. Any Filipino may establish and maintain institutions of learning, in accordance with the
laws authorizing them. Public education shall be free and obligatory in all schools of the nation.
Article 24. Foreigners may freely reside in Philippine territory, subject to legal dispositions regulating
the matter; may engage in any occupation or profession for the exercise of which no special license is
required by law to be issued by the national authorities.

Article 25. No Filipino who is in full enjoyment of his political and civil rights shall be impeded in his
right to travel freely abroad or in his right to transfer his residence or possessions to another country,
except as to his obligations to contribute to military service or the maintenance of public taxes.

Article 26. No foreigner who has not been naturalized may exercise in the Philippines any office which
carries with it any authority or jurisdictional powers.

Article 27. All Filipinos are obliged to defend his country with arms when called upon by law, and to
contribute to the expenses of the State in proportion to his means.

Article 28. The enumeration of the rights provided for in this title does not imply the denial of other
rights not mentioned.

Article 29. The prior authorization to prosecute a public official in the ordinary courts is not necessary,
whatever may be the crime committed.

A superior order shall not exempt a public official from liability in the cases which constitute apparent
and clear violations of constitutional precepts. In others, the agents of the law shall only be exempted
if they did not exercise the authority.

Article 30. The guarantees provided for in Articles 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article
20 shall not be suspended, partially or wholly, in any part of the Republic, except temporarily and by
authority of law, when the security of the State in extraordinary circumstances so demands.

When promulgated in any territory where the suspension applies, there shall be a special law which
shall govern during the period of the suspension, according to the circumstances prevailing.

The law of suspension as well as the special law to govern shall be approved by the National
Assembly, and in case the latter is in recess, the Government shall have the power to decree the same
jointly with the Permanent Commission, without prejudice to convoking the Assembly without the
least delay and report to it what had been done.

However, any suspension made shall not affect more rights than those mentioned in the first
paragraph of this Article nor authorize the Government to banish or deport from the Philippines any
Filipino.

Article 31. In the Republic of the Philippines, no one shall be judged by a special law nor by special
tribunals. No person or corporation may enjoy privileges or emoluments which are not in
compensation for public service rendered and authorized by law. War and marine laws shall apply
only for crimes and delicts which have intimate relation to military or naval discipline.

Article 32. No Filipino shall establish laws on primogeniture, nor institutions restrictive of property
rights, nor accept honors, decorations, or honorific titles or nobility from foreign nations without the
consent of the Government. Neither shall the Government establish in the Republic institutions
mentioned in the preceding paragraph, nor confer honors, decorations, or honorific titles of nobility
to any Filipino.

The Nation, however, may reward by special law approved by the Assembly, conspicuous services
rendered by citizens of the country.
1935 CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE III.—BILL OF RIGHTS

SECTION 1. (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.

(2) Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

(3) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against
unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon
probable cause, to be determined 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.

(4) The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law shall not be
impaired.

(5) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon lawful order of
the court or when public safety and order require otherwise.

(6) The right to form associations or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be abridged.

(7) No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof, and 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.

(8) No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble and petition the Government for redress of grievances

(9) No law granting a title of nobility shall be enacted, and no person holding any office of profit or
trust shall, without the consent of the National Assembly, accept any present, emolument, office, or
title of any kind whatever from any foreign state.

(10) No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.

(11) No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.

(12) No person shall be imprisoned for debt or nonpayment of a poll tax.

(13) No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a punishment for crime whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted.

(14) The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of invasion,
insurrection, or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, in any of which events the same may be
suspended wherever during such period the necessity for such suspension shall exist.

(15) No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law.

(16) All persons shall before conviction be bailable by sufficient sureties, except those charged with
capital offenses when evidence of guilt is strong. Excessive bail shall not be required.
(17) In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall be presumed to be 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 and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to
face and to have compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses in his behalf.

(18) No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.

(19) Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.

(20) No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense. If an cat is
punished by a law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall constitute a bar to
another prosecution for the same act.

(21) Free access to the courts shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty.

1943 Constitution (Effective During the

Japanese Occupation)
Article VII
Duties and Rights of the Citizen

Section 1. It is the duty of every citizen to render personal military and civil service as may be required
by law, to pay taxes and public charges, and to engage in a useful calling, occupation or profession.

Section 2. 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 3. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof, and no religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.

Section 4. No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.

Section 5. No ex post facto law shall be enacted.

Section 6. No person shall be imprisoned for debt.

Section 7. No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a punishment for crime whereof
the party shall have been duly convicted.

Section 8. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of
invasion, insurrection, rebellion, or when the public safety so requires.

Section 9. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

Section 10. Free access to the courts or administrative tribunals shall not be denied to any person by
reason of poverty.

Section 11. Subject to such limitations as may be imposed by law in the interest of peace, morals,
health, safety or public security:

(1) The right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.
(2) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall not be invaded.

(3) The right to form associations or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be infringed.

(4) The free enjoyment and practice of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or
preference, shall not be curtailed.

(5) The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law shall not be
impaired.

(6) The freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and
petition the government for redress of grievances, shall not be abridged.

1973 Constitution

ARTICLE IV
Bill of Rights

Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall
any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

Section 3. 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 not be violated,
and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to be determined
by the judge, or such other responsible officer as maybe authorized by law, 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 4. (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon
lawful order of the court, or when public safety and order require otherwise.
(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding section shall be inadmissible for any
purpose in any proceeding.

Section 5. The liberty of abode and of travel shall not be impaired except upon lawful order of the
court, or when necessary in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health.

Section 6. 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, shall be afforded the citizen subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.

Section 7. The right to form associations or societies for purposes not contrary to the law shall not be
abridged.

Section 8. 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 9. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.

Section 10. No law granting a title of royalty or nobility shall be enacted.

Section 11. No law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.

Section 12. No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.

Section 13. No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.

Section 14. No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist except as a punishment for a crime
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Section 15. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of
invasion, insurrection, or rebellion, or imminent danger thereof, when the public safety requires it.

Section 16. All persons, shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases in all judicial, quasi-
judicial, or administrative bodies.

Section 17. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law.

Section 18. All persons, except those charged with capital offenses when evidence of guilt is strong
shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties. Excessive bail shall not be required.

Section 19. 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
unjustified.

Section 20. No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself. Any person under
investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the right to remain silent and to counsel,
and to be informed of such right. No force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which
vitiates the free will shall be used against him. Any confession obtained in violation of this section
shall be inadmissible in evidence.

Section 21. Excessive fines shall not be imposed nor cruel or unusual punishment inflicted.

Section 22. 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 23. Free access to the courts shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty.

1987 Constitution

ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor
shall any person be denied the equal protection

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 and 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 the 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.