People of the Philippines v.

Pangilinan
GR 152662
Facts: The respondent is the accused in a violation of BP 22 case, herein she filed a civil case
against the co!plainant and su"se#uentl$ petitioned to suspend the cri!inal case on the
ground of a pre%udicial #uestion.
&ssue: 'hether or not the offense ould prescri"e after ( $ears.

)eld: *o, the court ruled that the filing of the co!plaint interrupted the period of prescription of
the offense+ even if the court cannot tr$ the case on the !erits.
,ggrieved parties, especiall$ those ho do not sleep on their rights and activel$ pursue their
causes, should not "e alloed to suffer unnecessaril$ further si!pl$ "ecause of circu!stances
"e$ond their control, li-e the accused.s dela$ing tactics or the dela$ and inefficienc$ of the
investigating agencies.