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Article 91Computation of prescription of offenses

Act No. 3815 · Revised Penal Code

ELI5— what this means for you

The prescriptive period starts from the day the crime is discovered. It is interrupted when proceedings are instituted against the offender and resumes if the proceedings are dismissed without the offender's fault.

Official text — Act No. 3815

Computation of prescription of offenses.

-The period of prescription shall commence to run from the day on which the crime is discovered by the offended party, the authorities or their agents, and shall be interrupted by the filing of the complaint or information, and shall commence to run again when such proceedings terminate without the accused being convicted or acquitted, or are unjustifiably stopped for any reason not imputable to him.

The term of prescription shall not run when the offender is absent from the Philippine Archipelago.

Source: lawphil.net (Act No. 3815 as amended)

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