Beware of cheap travel packages – DOJ

MANILA, Philippines - The public should be cautious when availing of cheap travel packages, outgoing Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

De Lima issued a statement after a Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 211 Ofelia Calo recently found Dennis Co, the general manager of travel agency Empress Royal Tours and Travels Service, guilty of committing estafa.

In a five-page decision, Calo sentenced Co to serve a prison term ranging from six months to 10 years. 

Co was also ordered to indemnify complainant John Karl Cornista P85,000, with 12 percent interest per year.

De Lima praised Assistant State Prosecutor Ramon Mendoza for securing a conviction.

“This must serve as a warning to the public to be wary of cheap travel packages being offered by certain agencies as these may turn out to be scams,” she added.

Co allegedly promised Cornista on June 9, 2011 that “he could secure airline tickets for three passengers bound for Canada for P105,000.”

Co was not able to procure the airline tickets and was unable to refund the full amount, which he had promised to do in a compromise agreement he signed. He returned only P20,000.