PACMAN: SIGNATURE FORGED LOSES $180K

MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao has received another low blow. And, again, it occurred outside the boxing ring.
The Filipino superstar, widely known to be too trusting and generous to people close to him, was allegedly duped of about $180,000 (about P7.2 million) by a certain Pia Quijada, who is the second wife of his driver Joseph Jose, according to a Team Pacquiao insider.
The full amount was withdrawn from the bank during a two-year period.
Quijada allegedly forged Pacquiao’s signature to systematically siphon off the huge amount from a bank account in Wells Fargo, on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, where Pacquiao initially deposited $200,000 in December 2006.
The fraudulent withdrawals were supposedly confirmed by Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee, who returned from Los Angeles on Feb. 6.
Based on the bank’s records, Quijada issued pay-to-cash checks in amounts ranging from $300 to $12,000.
Quijada was also accused of transferring $40,000 from Pacquiao’s Sunset Boulevard account to a newly opened account in Wells Fargo, Burbank, the same source said.
The heist was uncovered Thursday last week when Michael Koncz, a member of Pacquiao’s inner circle, received a call from Vilma Rodriguez, the assistant vice president of the Wells Fargo branch in Hollywood.
Rodriguez asked Koncz whether Pacquiao still remembered that he had an account with the bank, the source said.
Koncz then informed Pacquiao, who had apparently lost track of the deposit, which he opened in the company of Jose and Quijada using the couple’s Los Angeles address.
Only $19,000 remained
When he went to the bank, Pacquiao discovered that only $19,000 remained of his original $200,000 deposit.
Pacquiao was so upset he reportedly called it a day after shadow boxing for six rounds at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
The Pacman is preparing for his March 15 rematch with World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao returned to the bank to finish his questioning by the Anti-Fraud Unit and was given some 500 checks that bore his forged signature. Some of the checks were even endorsed and cashed by Quijada.
When the police started their investigation Friday morning, Quijada was said to have begged for forgiveness from Jinkee and said she was willing to do anything for her.
Jose, the same source said, also sent a text message to Pacquiao asking for forgiveness.
Jose reminded Pacquiao about the case of his former chief-of-staff Joe Ramos, who allegedly also defrauded him of tax refunds amounting to $150,000 a couple of years ago.
Despite being sacked, Ramos was able to return to Pacquiao’s good graces. He was even shown standing behind Pacquiao atop the ring at the end of his rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera last October.
According to the Team Pacquiao source, Pacquiao called Jinkee to seek her advice on what to do with the couple.
Jinkee was said to have told her husband not to forgive the couple, reasoning out that some people have been taking advantage of his soft heart and kindness.
Whether Pacquiao will heed her advice, however, remains uncertain.

SOURCE: Philippine Daily Inquirer