The unalienable rights of man and the govt's protection of life, liberty and property

ARTICLE 3 of the Philippine Constitution contains our Bill of Rights. This is perhaps the most important list that contains one's protection against any governmental abuses. The very first part of Section 1 states, "No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law..." This portion merely echoes what all free nations refer to as Man's Unalienable Rights. These rights are neither granted nor could be taken away by any government or institutions, simply because it is considered to be sacred and divinely given. In fact, the protection of the unalienable rights to life, liberty and property is one of the most compelling reasons and bases for the creation of a civil government. This connection between the protection of the unalienable rights and the creation of government by the people is eloquently stated by Thomas Jefferson in the US Declaration of Independence, to quote:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."