HUMAN RIGHTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HUMAN RIGHTS – Introduction………………………………………………………… 1

CHAPTER I – General Nature and Definitions of Human Rights………………………. 2

Human Rights Defined……………………………………………………………………. 2

Basic characteristics of human rights…………………………………………………….. 3

Classification of Rights…………………………………………………………………… 4

Categories of Human Rights……………………………………………………………… 7

Human Rights without any limitation…………………………………………………….. 10

CHAPTER II – Civil and Political Rights in Relation to the Philippine

National Police…………………………………………………………………………….. 10

Death Penalty……………………………………………………………………………… 11

Euthanasia – Mercy Killing……………………………………………………………….. 11

Abortion…………………………………………………………………………………… 12

Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment……………………… 12

Arbitrary Arrest and Detention…………………………………………………………… 13

Warrantless Arrests……………………………………………………………………….. 14

Military or Police Checkpoints……………………………………………………………. 14

Right of the Arrested or Detained Person………………………………………………… 15

Miranda Doctrine…………………………………………………………………………. 15

Right to Fair and Public Trial……………………………………………………………... 16

Right of Confrontation…………………………………………………………………….. 16

Right against Self-incrimination………………………………………………………….. 16

Presumption of Innocence………………………………………………………………… 17

Right to Bail………………………………………………………………………………. 17

Right to Appeal One’s Conviction of a Crime……………………………………………. 17

Double Jeopardy………………………………………………………………………….. 18

Right to Compensation Due to Miscarriage of Justice…………………………………… 18

Prohibition Against Ex Post Facto Law…………………………………………………… 19

Right to privacy…………………………………………………………………………… 19

Political and Related Rights………………………………………………………………. 20

Right to Peaceful Assembly for the Redress of Grievances……………………………… 20

CHAPTER III – Educating Filipinos on Human Rights………………………………….. 21

CHAPTER IV – REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9851- AN ACT DEFINING AND PENALIZING

CRIMES AGAINST INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, GENOCIDE AND
OTHER CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, ORGANIZING JURISDICTION,
DESIGNATING SPECIAL COURTS, AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES............................24

Section 1. Short Title……………………………………………………………………………….. 24

Section 2. Declaration of Principles and State Policies……………………………………….. 24

Section 3. For purposes of this Act, the term:…………………………………………………… 25

Section 4. War Crimes……………………………………………………………………………… 28

Section 5. Genocide………………………………………………………………………………… 32

Section 6. Other Crimes Against Humanity……………………………………………………... 32

Section 7. Penalties…………………………………………………………………………………. 33

Section 8. Individual Criminal Responsibilities………………………………………………… 34

Section 9. Irrelevance of Official Capacity……………………………………………………… 34

Section 10. Responsibility of Superiors………………………………………………………….. 35

Section 11. Non-prescription……………………………………………………………………… 35

Section 12. Orders from a Superior……………………………………………………………… 35

Section 13. Protection of Victims and Witnesses……………………………………………….. 36

Section 14. Reparations to Victims……………………………………………………………….. 36

Section 15. Applicability of International Law……………………………………………. 37

Section 16. Suppletory Application of the Revised Penal Code and Other General or
Special Laws…………………………………………………………………………………………. 37

Section 17. Jurisdiction……………………………………………………………………………. 38

Section 18. Philippine Court, Prosecutors and Investigators………………………………… 38

Section 19. Separability Clause…………………………………………………………………... 39

Section 20. Repealing Clause……………………………………………………………………… 39

Section 21. Effectivity………………………………………………………………………………. 39

CHAPTER V – Writ of Amparo as a Legal Remedy for Human Rights Violations…….. 39

The Writ of Amparo Typical in many Latin American Countries……………………….. 39

When a Writ of Amparo may be issued…………………………………………………... 40

Who May File the Petition………………………………………………………………… 40

No Docket Fees Required for Filing Writ of Amparo……………………………………. 41

Essential Contents of the Petition…………………………………………………………. 41

Penalty for Refusing to Issue or Serve the Writ of Amparo……………………………… 42

How the Writ of Amparo is served……………………………………………………….. 42

The Contents of the Return………………………………………………………………... 42

Waiver of Defenses Not Pleaded………………………………………………………….. 43

Prohibited Pleadings and Motions…………………………………………………………. 43

Summary and Interim Relief Measures…………………………………………………… 44

Availability of Interim Reliefs to Respondent……………………………………………. 45

Burden of Proof…………………………………………………………………………… 45

Judgment…………………………………………………………………………………… 46

Effect of the Filing of Criminal Action on a Writ of Amparo……………………………. 46

Decisions or Order Appealable to the Supreme Court……………………………………. 46

Rationale of the Writ……………………………………………………………………… 47

The Writ of Amparo is now Available to the Commission on Human Rights…………… 47