The country in brief
The country's law, area by area
Marriage, partnership and divorce
Marriage · Partnerships and cohabitation · Same-sex marriage · Religious ceremony · Wedding customs and ceremonies · Matrimonial property and inheritance · Divorce
Children, family and inheritance
Names · Adoption · Assisted reproduction · Step-families
Contraception, abortion, sexuality and drugs
Contraception · Abortion · Parents: a teenager’s first relationship · Sexual orientation · Drugs and controlled substances · Alcohol and tobacco
Violence, consent and sexual offences
Consent and age of consent · Domestic violence · Female genital mutilation
Online: privacy, image, data and scams
Data protection · Privacy · Image rights · Speech and online harassment · Copyright · Identity theft · Online shopping · Romance scams
Health: pregnancy, STIs and care
Pregnancy · Sex therapy · Mental health · Dental care · HIV and AIDS · Hepatitis B · HPV
Fundamental rights
Key points
| Constitution | Article III, Bill of Rights |
|---|---|
| Writ of amparo | Protection against threats to life, liberty and security |
| Writ of habeas data | Access to and correction or destruction of data held about a person |
| Commission on Human Rights | Constitutional body; investigatory and recommendatory |
| Public Attorney's Office | Free legal representation for those who qualify |
| Regional | ASEAN mechanism is consultative; UN treaty bodies accept communications |
| Expanded certiorari | Courts may review grave abuse of discretion by any branch |
| Free legal assistance | Public Attorney's Office and law school clinics |
| Writ of kalikasan | A further constitutional writ, for environmental rights |
Understanding the rules
Article III of the 1987 Constitution contains a detailed Bill of Rights, drafted in reaction to martial law. The Supreme Court created the writ of amparo, for threats to life, liberty or security, and the writ of habeas data, for informational privacy. The Commission on Human Rights is a constitutional body with investigatory powers.
In practice
- Use the writs of amparo and habeas data for urgent threats: they are heard on an expedited basis.
Where to go
- Commission on Human Rights regional offices.
- Public Attorney's Office.
- Free Legal Assistance Group and university legal aid clinics.
Worth knowing
The writs of amparo and habeas data are designed to be fast and are heard on an expedited basis: they are the tools for urgent threats, not for ordinary grievances.
The general article: Fundamental rights · Compare with another country
Courtship and beauty around the world
Advice
Sources
Whole page
- Executive Order No. 209, The Family Code of the Philippines — Republic of the Philippines, 1987
- Republic Act No. 10354, Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 — Republic of the Philippines, 2012
- Republic Act No. 9262, Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 — Republic of the Philippines, 2004
- Republic Act No. 11648, increasing the age of statutory rape and strengthening protection against sexual exploitation — Republic of the Philippines, 2022
- Republic Act No. 10173, Data Privacy Act of 2012 — Republic of the Philippines, 2012
Fundamental rights
- The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines — Republic of the Philippines, 1987
Official or institutional documents this page relies on, consulted on 12 October 2026. Links open in a new tab.
Page checked in .
Text prepared with artificial intelligence, reviewed and checked by the AffectionPlus team (method and sources: About). This content does not replace medical or legal advice. Spotted an error? Write to us.