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Ask Napoles to spell ‘forty’

Janet L. Napoles
Janet L. Napoles
Retired Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin remembers that when Jenny Napoles, the pork barrel queen who is now a fugitive, wrote a check for forty thousand pesos for the interest of the money she owed his late first wife, Loretta (Cercenia), she didn’t know how to spell the word “forty.”

“Ano nga ang spelling ng forty (How is forty spelled?),” Querubin recalled Napoles asking him.

He spelled out F-O-R-T-Y to her.

Retired Marine Col. Ariel Querubin
Retired Marine Col. Ariel Querubin

“She probably was not sure if she would spell it with a “u” as in “four”, Querubin, a Medal of Valor Awardee, said.

Napoles’ being unsure how to spell “forty” (which shows that you need not be good in spelling to amass billions of money) is just a sidelight of Querubin’s unpleasant memory of Napoles, who borrowed money from his military doctor-wife, with a promise to pay it with a five percent interest, for an investment she was making in a shipyard business.

The transaction turned out to be traumatic for Querubin because after a day after a stressful meeting of his wife with Napoles on Aug. 18, 1994, the former died of “unexplained primary pulmonary hypertension.”

Querubin said the money lent by his wife came from their savings and that of relatives. Another doctor-friend also lent a substantial amount to Napoles.

The Middle- East based military doctor, who asked not to be named, said he, the Querubins and the Napoleses used to be good friends. (They were all involved in the 1989 coup.) Faye, Querubin’s only daughter, is Napoles’ god-daughter. Jeane, the fashionista Napoles daughter, is the god-daughter of Querubin and the military doctor.

Querubin said when Lorrie gave the money Napoles was borrowing, the latter issued post-dated checks for the interest. That’s when she asked about the spelling of “forty.”The first few checks were good, Querubin said. But later on the post-dated checks bounced.

Lorrie and his doctor-friend were later referred to another military wife, who was the one in the shipyard business and was the one who used the money Napoles got from the two military doctors.

One day, when they were trying to collect with the military wife, Napoles arrived. It was not a very pleasant meeting with Lorrie calling up Querubin and gave the phone to Napoles.

Querubin remembers Napoles being high-strung when they were talking on the phone and he told her not to raise her voice.
The next day Lorrie was dead.

Querubin said on the first night of Lorrie’s wake, Napoles came with a priest and full payment for what she owed Lorrie in dollars.

But the other military doctor was not as lucky. The last P50,000 check issued her by Napoles bounced.
The doctor said napoles issued that check in bad faith because when it was deposited, the bank said Napoles account had been “closed.” He said he was never paid in full.

“ When this pork barrel controversy came out , I asked my wife to look for that returned check.” he said.

When that returned check is found, it could be evidence against Napoles. But that probably is the least of her concern. She and her brother, Reynald “Jojo” Lim, are currently being hunted by the authorities in connection with the charge of illegal detention of Benhur Luy, former business associate of Napoles, who is now the star whistleblower in the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

De Lima admits they face difficulty in arresting Napoles because she is “well-connected.”

Those connections , who are rumored to be in high places, will make sure that she is not arrested.

In the olden times, punishment for an offense comes in the form of 40 lashes. Would Napoles prefer that , however it is spelled, to the situation she is now?

Published inGraft and corruption

40 Comments

  1. Lurker Lurker

    Well, if it’s any consolation, even GMA has charges filed against her. And she is much more “well-connected” than Napoles.

  2. chi chi

    Accidendal murderer pa pala itong si Janet Napoles.

    Btw, bakit nila binayaan na makapagtago/maitago si Napoles samantalang pwede nilang pamanmanan, bantayan ng lihim ang akusada sa simula pa. Nasa media palagi ang nangyayari, binigyan nila ng enough time si Napoles para makatago.

    Sa huli nito wala ng asset si Napoles sa Pinas, naitago na rin gaya ng mga Ampatuans dahil mas inuna ang dakdak sa media kesa sa habulan.

    Nanapin ninyo sa lungga ng (isang) cabinet member, o sa silong ng mga involved na senadores, congressmen at militar. 🙂

  3. Al Al

    Hanapin na yung bouncing check na yun.

  4. vic vic

    Depends on the Connections…if they were involved in the scheme then they will do their best to silence the source, and all options are open. In the Case of JLN, we are talking the country’s veteran Senators and very dangerous Representatives that could also be troubles to all concern…But that should not be the case if the Government of Pnoy is hell bent to clean up the mess in its Fight against Corruption..it has the tools, the Mandate and the endorsement of the Filipinos…What the authorities need is Guts, lots of it and for the Government, Political Will…and if this will not get resolved, then Aquino’s whole tenure is a Failure, a BIG dismal failure however one will look at it and at any angle. Now is the time for Pnoy to probe that he meant business…

  5. baguneta baguneta

    Ang buwelta ni Major Napoles, ” ako nag coup pero hindi ako nagpapabayad para lang mag coup”. Kanino kaya patama ni major yun?

  6. Ellen, if I will put odds on where Napoles is, I would bet that she is probably dead, placed in a drum with cement and dumped off in West Philippine Sea or some deep sea. The world is closing in on her, with the NBI investigation, COA latest report on PDAF for 2007 to 2009 and the BIR investigation. I think, she is smart and she always knew that she was playing with lions, tigers and crocodiles and one day, she will be eaten by them. I dont think she will be allowed by those named in the Inquirer and COA reports to be arrested and risk the possibility she might “sing” her red book.

  7. Snoop Snoop

    Sa tagal ng pag-issue ng arrest warrant, siyempre nakatakas na yan. Sa dami ng pera niyang nakaw, nabayaran na nya yung bangka na nagdala sa kanya. Kaya din niyang nag-private plane. Super kupad kasi ang JUST TIIS natin. Naisahan na naman si de Lima.

  8. Snoop Snoop

    Possible rin na sa dami ng mga senaTONGS na nakinabang sa kanya at mga TONGgressman na ngayon eh ayaw mabuking, iniligpit na siya at yung kanyang asawa at kapatid.

  9. vic vic

    Ellen,
    We had a case quite similar to the Napoles, that of the Arthur and Pamela Porter..when the investigators closing in they both sneaked out of the Country, but were Refused Asylum in Panama where the Porters reported laundered $22 millions of Dirty Money from Kickbacks. Mrs Pamela Porter is now Back in Quebec and was Denied BAIL while Arthur is reportedly dying from Cancer. Their exposure triggered the Province Wide Corruption Probe that started Two years ago and as Date 106 politicians, business leaders and Organized crimes bosses been rounded up, including many Local MAYORS (Montreal mayor was also charged of 14 counts) and the CEO And Officers of the Giant engineering Firm SNC Lavalin were Also rounded up and the firm and many of its cos were blacklisted by the world bank and many other international org..( it was the same SNC Lavalin who was in partnership with Libya Khaddafy in infras contracts). It also got the contract from Dr Porter to Build McGill University Super Hospital for $1.3 billions and the Contract was Rigged. Usually 1/3 of Funding is Federal2/3 Provincial..so all Canadians somehow been ripped off not just the Quibecois and the will be sued for the money back. The others were charged for all kind of corrupt acts like public service contact rigging and if you have been to Quebec major cities lately, it resembles a third world in public service and lots ofPotholes.

  10. “ako nag coup pero hindi ako nagpapabayad para lang mag coup”. Kanino kaya patama ni major yun – baguneta

    Di lang siya kasama sa partihan. Nyahaha.

  11. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    # 6 and 9

    Buhay pa yan. They will wait and see if she can fly the coop. Kapag wala na, baka ang tumodas ang arresting officers. Trying to escape kuno. They will plant handguns in their hands, parang Ben Tumbling of the 80s. Yung mga bata diyan, i-google niyo na lang si Ben Tumbling.

    Spelling bee champion daw yan. Ang teacher niya si Dan Quayle.

  12. Spelling bee champion daw yan. Ang teacher niya si Dan Quayle-SnV #9

    LOL….

  13. chi chi

    28+ houses in Pinas and overseas, dozens of luxury cars

  14. chi chi

    putol…

    well mawawala nga si Janet Napoles! Lipat-lipat lang ng kwarto ng bahay at kotse mahihilo ang naghahanap.

  15. This is a good read:

    Launching a “manhunt” with a scale and level of hysteria usually reserved for major terrorists or active serial killers for one who is only officially accused of “serious illegal detention” (which in actual English-speaking countries where people do not assume using big words necessarily makes things sound more intelligent would be called “kidnapping”) is intended to accomplish only two things: First, to convince the public that Janet Napoles is the sole offender in the scandal, and to deflect scrutiny from the many legislators and officials of the Administration – a number which is not known, but we might realistically guess is pretty close to “all of them” – who are involved. Second, by making the “manhunt” as clumsy and obvious as possible, the Administration is making sure that Janet Napoles and her close cohorts understand that they need to disappear and are being given a free pass to do so.

    Not convinced? Consider this little segment of the chain of events: The arrest warrant for Janet Napoles was issued on Wednesday and she was immediately invisible, in stark contrast to her very public presence in the preceding days and weeks. It was not until yesterday (Friday) that the Court of Appeals ordered Napoles’ bank accounts frozen. It is fair assumption that, given the “fugitive’s” two-day head start, there was probably not much in those accounts to freeze by then.

    http://benkritz.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/the-sweaty-janet-napoles-shaped-cloud-may-have-a-silver-lining-after-all/

    Haaaaaaaaay.

  16. chi chi

    Ayun na nga, Ellen, binigyan si Napoles ng head start ng administrayon. With the big names involved, they are scared. Niloloko ang publiko!

  17. Snoop Snoop

    I very much doubt if the legislators who are involved will ever be exposed. What happened to the cases bansot? Wala pa ring umuusad na kaso niya. What about Garcia, the general who amassed money from the military and all the other thieves. The Ampatuans? Malapit ng mapatay ang mga witnesses, hindi pa rin tapos ang kaso.

  18. Snoop Snoop

    Ellen, super swerte naman ni Napoles na may gracefull exit to save the faces of these corrupt politicians. Tuloy and ligaya. Will the government ever take these resources back? 28 luxury homes in PI and multi million real estate holdihngs in the US.

  19. Snoop Snoop

    Pagbalik ni Napoles sa PI, may ibang mukha na. Tuloy and ligaya ng mga corrupt. Kawawang Pinas talaga.

  20. srcitizen2000 srcitizen2000

    Alam naman natin na well connected si Napoles yung karamihans sa kanila, maaring sumabit sa racket na ito kaya hindi malayong sila man ay may interes na maikubli ang kriminal. siguro panahon na na palawakin ng nbi at kapulisan ang paghahanap. baki kaya isama sa mga pwedeng pagtaguan yung mga bahay at safe houses ng mga senador at ilang pulitiko na nabanggit na ang pangalan re their involvement in the scam. isama na rin ang mga kaparian na tumatanggap ng biyaya kay napoles. baka makita natin na isa sa mga bahay na ito ang taguan ngayon ng JLN at mga kakutyaba niya.

  21. MrTension MrTension

    Parang alam ko na ang kahihinatnan ng dramang ito,
    HOSPITAL ARREST sa isang airconditioned room sa Makati Medical Center

  22. MPRivera MPRivera

    hindi alam ang ispeling ng FORTY, big time na negosyante?

    aw, kam’on.

    ang dapat sabihin ng janet napoles na ‘yan big time siyang bugaw kung totoong mga batambatang babae ang kanyang ipinapain sa mga hayok na manyakis na mambababoy (mambabatas na naglalaway sa pork barrel) kapalit ng salaping ibinubuhos sa kanyang pekeng NGO’s.

    sa tuso ba naman ng babaeng ‘yan akala ng DOJ, magtatabi ng pera sa mga banko sa pilipinas? puro dollar accounts sigurado ‘yan abroad. kung meron man sa pilipinas barya barya lang.

  23. MPRivera MPRivera

    bakit ayaw ni noynoy na i-abolish ang pork barrel sa gitna ng sumisingaw na anomalyang ito?

    DAHIL marami din siyang kaalyadong sasabit kapag kinalkal nang malaliman ang balon ng nakawan.

    being the chief executive, noynoy should show concern and prudence upang mapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng kanyang mga BOSS na siyang direktang apektado sa kasong ito.

  24. MrTension MrTension

    abangan natin kung anong klaseng sakit ang findings ng mga doktor na di kayang gamutin ng Pinoy doctor kaya sa ibang bansa ito gagamutin,, nanangkupoh!

  25. Express your rage vs pork barrel scam. Jin the “Million People March to Luneta” on August 26, Araw ng mga Bayani starting at 3 pm.
    AAug 26 Rizal park march

  26. Jake Las Pinas Jake Las Pinas

    Magtataka pa ba sila kung bakit ang mga tao ayaw magbayad ng buwis.

  27. Masalimuot talaga yang pork barrel. May idea ako kung bakit hindi umiimik si Kalbo.

    Nung huling sinabi ng isang pangulo na tatanggalin na ang pork barrel, hindi nagtagal, inunahan na siya maging ng mga kakampi niya kaya Enero pa lang ng taong 2001, na-tsugi na siya. Pinuhunanan ng bilyong pisong suhol sa military generals kasabay ng matagalang bayad atraso hanggang sa magpakamatay si Reyes. kurakot galore si Putot ng pambayad sa nagluklok sa kanya ng dalawang beses. Ni hindi nagkaroon ng pagkakataong ideklara ni Erap ng opisyal na pagbabasura ng pork barrel. Ganyan kahalaga yang lecheng pork barrel.

    Hindi kaya ni Noynoy, o hindi pa napapanahon para burahin na ng tuluyan yang pork barrel hangga’t hindi pa niya naisusulong ang anumang agenda niya. Hindi ibig sabihin na sinasangayunan ko, pero yan ang basa ko.

    Ayon sa aking bolang kristal, pinakamaaga na ang 2015 para iyan maipapatupad.

  28. chi chi

    #29. tongue, kung ganyan nga ang isip ni Pnoy mabuti nga na huwag na syang magsalita pero huwag rin nya ikumpara ang Napoles case sa fertilizer scam ni Goyang. Dapat ay completely silent sya at hayaan na ang Justice dept, NBI, Ombudsman at publiko ang mag-solve ng problema ito. Then, sa tapos ng kanyang termino ay i-kaput nya bigla.

  29. chi chi

    Inalarma ng Malacañang ang Department of Fo­reign Affairs (DFA) sa posibilidad na gumamit ng ibang pangalan at mukha sa pasaporte si Janet Lim-Napoles upang makatakas palabas ng bansa. -news

    Sino nag-make up kay Janet, baka sobra na ang ganda. Wahahaha! Kung plastic surgery ang ginawa, ilang buwan siyang magpapagaling ng mukha. Ano kaya bagong name? Natatawa ako sa balitang ito. 🙂

  30. chi chi

    “Magtago ka nalang. Kasi kung ako makita kita sa kalsada sasagasaan kita”

    Hahahaha!!!

    Thanks #13 tongue for the link, enjoy ako ng todo. 🙂

  31. olan olan

    Madam cannot do this by herself as alleged. Gugulang ng mga tonggressman at mga dilehensyadores. Lalo na sa PDAF nila. After the exposé, most of them are sooooo quite! Nawala Ang mga yabang…bakit kaya??

  32. jawo jawo

    TANONG: Bakit nagkaka-banggaan paminsan-minsan ang ating mga
    senatong at mga tongresista ?

    SAGOT: Kasi ang mga magnanakaw ay galit sa mga kapwa nila
    magnanakaw.

  33. MPRivera MPRivera

    One tragedy after the other, calamities and disasters copiously hitting the country aren’t ample reasons for not only the president but all lawmakers from both the upper and lower houses of the senate to collectively decide abolishing the PDAF popularly known as pork barrel. Should they agree scrapping the corrupt laden pork, billions of pesos can be allocated in the rehabilitation of our agricultural system and existing infrastructure, modernizing our defense and peacekeeping capabilities, construction of enough classrooms and educational facilities, upgrading social services and bringing waterways back to life to put a stop to massive flooding during typhoon season. Shameless corrupt officials must just admit what they can only offer is nothing but publicity gimmicks. Laying plans and introducing measures which are only to be afterwards left idly sleeping in a dark corner as if all this would be opening doors that would uplift the living conditions of the common people are not enough to fulfill promises of transparency and committed services they always pledge during campaign.

    We really fail to see common decency in all levels of politics these days. Without that controversial pork barrel, surely only a few scoundrels would want to make it to the top in any of the house. But, with pork they will all fight to death only to stay there, if possible endlessly eyeing billions of taxpayers’ money to spend irresponsibly giving full priority filling their own pockets.

    Can we still hope for the resurrection of the Idol of the Masses, the most beloved president the Philippines ever had, Ramon Magsaysay?

  34. Hindi kayang talunin ng Santo iyang si napoles kaya hanap kayo ng Demonyo ilaban sa kanya

  35. MPRivera MPRivera

    Pork barrel, binaboy nang husto — PNoy

    http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/aug2113/news02.htm

    kung dismayado talaga, bakit ayaw pang tanggalin ang pork barrel? diyan magkakaalaman KUNG sino sa mga mambabatas ang maglilingkod sa taumbayan NANG walang pinaglalawayang pork barrel.

    hindi na dahilan o katwiran KUNG kaninong administrasyon naging kulapol ng kurakutan ang pondong ‘yan.

    taong bayan na ang naghahamon kay noynoy na alisin ang numero unong ugat ng katiwalian, sila na lagi niyang sinasabing kanyang BOSS, bakit ayaw niyang sumunod?

    ipinapakita ba ni noynoy na HINDI siya kaiba sa mga nangungurakot dahil takot siyang mawala ang bilyong pisong presidential pork?

    hige nga!

  36. MPRivera MPRivera

    ‘yang baboy ay sinumpa maging sa bibliya
    kahit sa totoong buhay ay may duming nakikita
    lalo ngayong iya’y sangkot sa pulitika
    ginagamit ng mga hudas na mapagsamantala.

    ang baboy ay masama sa ating kalusugan
    sapagkat sari sari ang dalang karamdaman
    lalo’t sumusobra ang lantak na walang humpay
    dulo kung hindi istrok ay tigok ang ating buhay.

    subali’t bakit kaya ganyan tila ayaw na mawala
    kahanay ng pamaraling paglilingkod sa kapwa
    nitong mga public servants na mapagkawanggawa
    mas iniintinding punuin ang bulsa ng biyaya.

    atin nang natatanto, ngayo’y ating nababatid
    walang kabutihang dulot ang anumang labis
    tulad nga nang pambababoy ng mga sukab at ganid
    haya’t umaalingasaw na etsas ng baboy sa paligid!

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