The Philippine

Constitution of 1987
ARTICLE III:
BILL OF RIGHTS
Sec. 15 - 22
The concept of Bill of Rights
 It is the 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.
 THE CONTENTS
(continuation from Sec. 1 –
14)
Sec. 15: What is the writ of habeas corpus?
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.

 Habeas corpus is a latin phrase that literally means

“produce the body”
Sec. 15: What is the writ of habeas corpus?
 A writ of habeas corpus is
a summons, applied for by
the prisoner or by somebody
on his or her behalf, and is
addressed to the person or
agency (i.e., a prison)
holding that prisoner.
Why it matters?
 Habeas corpus is one of the most
important checks on state power
that citizens of many democracies
currently have. Without habeas
corpus, the government would
essentially have the right to
imprison citizens without charging
them or bringing them to trial for
indefinite periods of time.
 Sec. 16: The right to a speedy trial
Sec. 16. All persons shall
have the right to a speedy
disposition of their cases
before all judicial, quasi-
judicial, or administrative
bodies.
 The guarantee of a speedy
trial is one of the most basic “Justice delayed
rights preserved by our is justice denied.”
Constitution.
Sec. 17: The right against self-incrimination
Sec. 17. No person shall be compelled
to be a witness against himself.

 This forbids the government from

compelling any person to give
testimonial evidence that would
likely incriminate him or her during
a criminal case.
Sec. 17: The right against self-incrimination
 The right allows a person not to answer an incriminating
question. An incriminating question is one that if answered
renders a person liable for an offense. However, it is only
when the incriminating question is put to a witness stand
that the right may be invoked.
Sec. 18 (1): Embodiment of freedom of
expression
Sec. 18. (1) No person shall be detained solely by
reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.

 This first part reflects Section

4 of Article III, but with
emphasis on the prohibition
against incarceration of
“political prisoners”.
Sec. 18 (2): The right against involuntary
servitude
(2) No involuntary servitude in any form shall exist
except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted.
 Involuntary servitude
refers to the compulsory of
service of another or simply
modern slavery.
Sec. 19 (1): Death penalty in the Philippines
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.
 Death penalty: abolition, reinstatement,
abolition.
Republic Act No. Article 3. Sec.
8177 by
Ferdinand Marcos
19 (1) by
Cory Aquino

Republic Act Republic Act

No. 7569 by No. 9346 by
Fidel V. Ramos
Gloria
Macapagal
Arroyo
Sec. 19 (2): Proper Treatment of Persons
Legally Detained or Imprisoned
(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 the
law.
 Each person detained, is
entitled to a proper
treatment and protection.
Sec. 20: Just can’t ‘debt’ enough
Sec. 20. No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-
payment of a poll tax.
 A citizen cannot be
imprisoned for debt. But
creditors can still bring you to
court to demand and enforce
payment of your debts.
Sec. 21: The right against double jeopardy
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.
 Double jeopardy means that
a person is twice put at the
risk of conviction for the
same act offense.
Sec. 22: Ex post facto law
Sec. 22. No ex post facto law or bill of
attainder shall enacted.

 ‘Ex post facto’ is latin translation to

“from action after” or “after the facts”.

It is when a certain crime is

committed, and then the law is passed
regarding that crime.
References:
1. https://tamayaosbc.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/bill-of-rights/
2. https://
www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-t
he-republic-of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republi
c-of-the-philippines-article-iii/
6. Is a latin phrase that literally means “produce the body”.
7. Is a summons, applied for by the prisoner or by somebody on his or her behalf, and is
addressed to the person or agency holding that prisoner.
8. This means that a person is twice put at the risk of conviction for the same act offense.
9. It is when a certain crime is committed, and then the law is passed regarding that crime.
10. Is a latin translation to “from action after” or “after the facts”.