Violation of Batas Pambansa Blg.

22 (BP 22) or the Anti-Bouncing Checks Law and Estafa are two
different crimes. According to Section 1 of BP 22, the act being punished is the making or drawing of any
check to apply on account or for value, knowing that at the time of issue, the check has insufficient funds
in or credit with the drawee bank for the payment of the check in full upon its presentment. Basically, it
is the issuance of a check that is dishonored due to insufficiency of funds or the drawer, without any
valid reason, ordered the bank to stop payment of the said check. The act is punishable by imprisonment
of not less than thirty (30) days but not more than one (1) year or by a fine of not less than but not more
than double the amount of the check, which shall not exceed P200,000, or both fine and imprisonment
at the discretion of the court. Section 1 of Act No. 3326 states that the prescriptive period for filing a
complaint for violation of BP 22 is four (4) years from the day of the commission of the violation of the
law, or if not known at that time, from the discovery thereof.