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Which One Of The 22 Sections Of The Bill Of Rights Will You Change And
Why?
By Gil Camaymayan

The main purpose of the Bill Of Rights was to guarantee the individual rights of the citizen under
the constitution. These are rights expressly and explicitly provided in our constitution that serves
as safe guards of the basic rights of the people as provided by the state within its territory,
regardless of citizenship, sex, race, color or creed. These are rights that have adopted and have
evolved through time providing balance and harmony between the powers of the three branches
of government and the right of its people. As one of the Founding Fathers of one of the great
nations in the world stated that A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every
government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government should refuse, or rest on
inferences. These are rights of the people that the state should respect and protect for these are
basic principles that government should adhere and follow.
Upon learning and understanding the twenty two sections of the Bill Of Rights of the Philippines
under Article III of the 1987 Constitution wherein mostly serves as protection of a person against
the technicalities and intricacies of our system of government rather than safeguarding the most
basic and natural right of a person which is his right to life and liberty. These are rights that the
great heroes of this country has fought and died for and it is only just and reasonable that such
rights should be enshrined and guaranteed to any individuals that set foot in this wonderful
nation. The right to life and liberty should not only be guaranteed under in our so called due
process but should be assured to every person regardless of his status and belief. That the state
under its government would protect and assure its people that it shall legislate and implement
policies and laws that would safe guard their life and liberty against external forces within and
outside of the country, for the state would not be able to function without its people and in return
patriotism and nationalism would make this nation great again.
The first section of the Bill Of Rights is the most important part for it represents and would give
totality on what principles it tries to protect. A part of Section 1 of the Bill Of Rights states that:
No Person Shall be Deprive of Life, Liberty and Property without Due Process of Law
Life, Liberty and Property of a person should not only be protected through due process as
established by our laws but is should be guaranteed and assured to anyone within the territorial
limits of this nation. For the right to life, liberty and property is a natural right that should be
assured and protected by the state regardless of an individuals status or belief. Given this I am
proposing an amendment to the Constitution under the Section 1 of the Bill Of Rights as below:
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No Person shall be Deprive of Life, Liberty and Property without Due Process of Law or for
Reason of his Status or Belief.
The change would serve as a safeguard of a persons right to life, liberty and property against
oppressing forces that are social, commercial and political in nature, the concept is basic but is
essential and inherent to each and every one. As one wise professor mine said before that The
best solution is the simplest solution. Sometimes we try to look for answers on problems in our
society, policy and government making use of technicalities and complexities thinking that this
would give us the resolution or would make us at par with the international community but in
return it would just create additional issues or problems. Maybe its time for us to go back to the
basics and try to rebuild this nation from simplest and most common principles that we should be
assured and provided, and that would be the right to a persons life, liberty and property
regardless of any circumstance or situation.
For people are the most essential component that builds up a nation, as one honest president once
said that he wanted to build a government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from the earth. If we are to create a government and nation for the people then it would
be fitting and just that they should be protected, and the right to life is one of the most essential
right a person should posses. It shall not be deprive of him for reason of his financial capacity,
social standing, political or religious belief. These are inherent rights of a person but if we are to
enshrine it in our constitution we are establishing it as a major priority that our government and
other entity and people should respect and follow. How many scenarios, stories and Filipino
movies have you seen and heard wherein someone was not given proper medical attention due to
his financial incapacity and personal ignorance resulting to deprivation of his health and worse
his life. These kinds of stories are not really new but what is conveyed through them is that in
our present situation that people live longer if they have the financial means. Would we just wait
and have commercialism devour this nation? Or should the government act and make use all of
the inherent power vested unto it by the constitution to give the proper attention and facilities to
make sure that his people are well taken care of. To establish policies and procedures that
commercialism shall not out weight the ultimate right of the person which is his life.
Liberty is the greatest gift that the courageous heroes of this country has given us, Some great
and some not so great men has fought, injured, killed and have been killed in order for this
generation to have it fully realized and experience. But sadly to say are we really free? A wise
man once said that When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear
the government, there is tyranny. Is there currently tyranny? How may news have you heard
People in authority abusing their vested power, way worse is when agents of those people in
authority tries to portray that they are above everyone else. You may not notice it but the actions
of such individuals limit your right of liberty for they are tyrants who see themselves as privilege
and could transgress norm. Public office is for public service the government as an essential
component of the state should serve the people and not inflict fear and oppression especially to
those who are considered to be unprivileged. Including such amendment on the Bill Of Rights
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would serve as a reminder to our government that the Liberty is a right bestowed upon and
individual by the constitution that it should be preserved and respected by everyone especially by
the government.
As specified under the State Policy of the Constitution that the State shall promote social justice
in all phases of national development. The proposed amendment on the bill of rights would not
only promote social justice but realize it for it is favorable to people who are less in life for the
state through its government shall provide them with such privilege and protection that their
essential and basic rights shall be respected and secured. The amendment would also adhere to
most of the section of the Bill of Rights for it tries to preserve and protect the most important
right an individual could posses.
In a country with great history of violence, corruption and violation of human rights,
incorporation of such rights in the Bill of Rights would not only serve as a legal basis to counter
oppressive forces in the society and government but it would greatly help to bring back trust and
confidence to our government and would instill patriotism to the people of this nation for they
know that the state would look after their well being.