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The full amount was withdrawn from the bank during a two-year period.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.
