Article 3

Bill of Rights
Section 6, 7 & 8

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.
Liberty of Abode and Right to Travel

Liberty of Abode
Abode - Home
Freedom to choose and change ones home
Within the limits prescribed by law
Not an absolute right
May be impaired or restricted when there is a lawful court order

Right to Travel
Travel within or outside the country
The government may deny your right to return or right to travel for the ff. reasons:
Interest of National Security
o Terrorism
o War
Public Safety
o Bomb Threat
o Volcanic Eruption
Public Health
o Disease Outbreak
When a person is on bail, or under a watch-list and hold departure order

Limitations under Section 6:

1.

Lawful order of the court and within the limits prescribed

Eminent Domain

2.

May be curtailed (limited) even by administrative officers (ex. passport officers) in the interest of national security,

public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.

-

You are not allowed to leave the country the country experiences health crisis (airborne)

You are not allowed to travel to those countries at war

You are not allowed to leave the country if you have a criminal case

you are a fugitive

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.
Public Documents
-Records that are meant to be made available to the public at large on demand

RA 9470
-National Archives of the Philippines and other public documents
-It is the policy of the State to protect, conserve, promote and popularize the nations historical and cultural heritage
and resources.

REVISED RULES ON EVIDENCE

RULE 132: Presentation of Evidence
Section 19. Classes of Documents. For the purpose of their presentation evidence, documents are either public or
private.
Public documents are:
(a) The written official acts, or records of the official acts of the sovereign authority, official bodies and tribunals, and
public officers, whether of the Philippines, or of a foreign country;
(b) Documents acknowledge before a notary public except last wills and testaments; and
(c) Public records, kept in the Philippines, of private documents required by law to the entered therein.
All other writings are private.

Public Documents Examples:

Documents Available from NSO:

-Birth Certificate
-Marriage Certificate
-Record of No Marriage
-Dissolution of Marriage
-Adoption
-Death Certificate
CONFIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

Private Documents
-Records whose contents, if made public, could invade the privacy of an individual who has broken no laws
-Personnel files, Income tax records

National Security Matters

- Military, diplomatic and other national security concerns, and information on inter-government exchanges prior to
the conclusion of treaties and executive agreements

Trade or Industrial Secrets

-Intellectual Property Code and other related laws

Banking Transactions
-Secrecy of Bank Deposit Act

Criminal Matters (Intelligence Information)

-classified law enforcement matters, such as those relating to the apprehension, the prosecution and the detention
of criminals, which courts may not inquire into prior to such arrest, detention and prosecution

Other Confidential Information

- Ethical Standards Act
-confidential or classified information officially known to them by reason of their office and not made available to
the public.
- diplomatic correspondence, closed door Cabinet meetings and executive sessions of either house of Congress,
as well as the internal deliberations of the Supreme Court

Others:
Recognized restrictions on the right of the people to information:
1.
2.

National security matters

Intelligence information

3.

Trade secrets

4.

Banking transactions

5.
6.

Diplomatic correspondence
Executive sessions

7.

Closed door cabinet meetings

8.

Supreme Court deliberations

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.
Union - group of workers defending their rights
Society - group of people living in a community with shared laws and traditions.
Association - group of people with the same interests
Right to Form Associations

May be exercised by
Employed or the unemployed
Employed in the government or in the private sector

Does not include the right to strike

Limitations under Section 8:

1.

If an association is shown to create imminent danger to public safety, public order, public peace, or public morals,

then the right to form associations may be abridged by the State in the exercise of its police power