In 2015, Renato Amurao convinced Sheila Suplido to engage his services in constructing her dream house. Amurao was introduced to Suplido by a friend and that friend kept on referring to Amurao as an engineer. Amurao told Suplido that for Php1.9M, he can complete the house in six months. Suplido then paid a downpayment of Php500k. Amurao then began constructing the house but after seven days, construction halted without any reason. Suplido tried to confront Amurao but he ignored her messages. Later, Suplido found out that Amurao is not an engineer nor does he have any authority to be engaged in the construction business. Suplido then filed an estafa case against Amurao. In his defense, Amurao averred that he never projected himself as an engineer and that it was their friend who kept on calling him an engineer; that he did not correct the friend so as not to embarrass that friend.
ISSUE: Whether or not Amurao is liable for estafa.
HELD: Yes. By concealing the truth that he is not an engineer by profession and that he is not a licensed contractor, Amurao had misrepresented himself as possessing the capacity to engage in the construction of Suplido’s house. Amurao’s act of letting Suplido believe in their common friend that he is an engineer, was a clear misrepresentation because Amurao’s job is, as admitted by him, a teacher of Practical Arts subject in High School and elementary.
