- Petitioner
- Conrado Fernando, Jr.
- Respondent
- People
- Citation
- G.R. No. 255180
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Third Division
- Ponente
- Inting, J.
- Decided
- August 7, 2023
Summary
Conrado Fernando, Jr. was charged with Estafa for allegedly defrauding Doroliza Din of P37,400.00 for a Hong Kong tour package that did not materialize. The RTC convicted him, and the CA affirmed with modifications. However, the Supreme Court reversed and acquitted Fernando, finding insufficient evidence of fraudulent misrepresentation. The Court ruled that Airward Travel and Tours was a legitimate non-IATA travel agency authorized to sell tour packages through IATA-member agencies, and Fernando was merely an employee acting on Airward's behalf. The prosecution failed to prove the promotional tour packages were false or that Fernando acted with intent to defraud. The Court emphasized that even an iota of doubt warrants acquittal in criminal cases.