Iggy's remains arrive today from London

MANILA, Philippines - The remains of the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo are expected to arrive this afternoon from London at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, his widow said.

Alicia Rita “Aleli” Morales-Arroyo, who arrived in London on Thursday, said her husband’s wake will be at their home on 17 Badjao St. in La Vista, Quezon City until Tuesday.

The necrological services for Arroyo at the House of Representatives will be on Tuesday, according to Secretary-General Marilyn Barua-Yap.

The lawmaker died last Jan. 26 of heart attack in a hospital in London where he was an outpatient since October undergoing treatment for cirrhosis of the liver.

After the necrological services in the House, the body will be flown to Bacolod City where it will lie until Thursday afternoon.

Arroyo said the remains will be brought back to their residence on Friday and burial will take place the following day at the North Cemetery in Manila.

“Rep. Arroyo will be laid to rest beside his mother,” she said.

She, however, said that her late husband’s companion, Grace Ibuna, who was with him the last several years, would not be welcome in the wake and burial.

Arroyo was with her lawyer Lorna Kapunan in London to also find out the circumstances surrounding his death.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. guaranteed that services needed by Arroyo’s constituents will be delivered despite his demise.

He said the national government has been asking the concerned mayors in the district of Arroyo about the projects to be implemented.

The chamber adopted on Monday night House Resolution No. 216 filed by Belmonte, House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II and House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez where the lawmakers acknowledged Arroyo’s “illustrious legislative career that was marked by a deep concern for and unwavering dedication to alleviate the plight of marginalized sectors of the society such as teachers, seafarers, the youth and exploited children, day care workers, rural health workers and overseas Filipino workers.”

Meanwhile, the late lawmaker’s elder brother, former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, welcomed the move of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) not to oppose the request of his wife, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to visit the wake of her brother-in-law.

The Comelec had said it is leaving the decision on whether to allow the former president to visit the wake and attend the funeral of Iggy to Pasay Regional Trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas.

Mrs. Arroyo is detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City for alleged electoral sabotage.

“We believe in the Filipino family tradition, we are leaving to the honorable court the decision on the motion,” Comelec lawyer Juana Maria Valesa said during yesterday’s hearing on Arroyo’s motion.

Valesa, however, said the defense must submit to the court the dates when Arroyo will be attending the wake and funeral.

She also told the court that they want Arroyo’s camp to shoulder all the expenses during her furlough, including the food of police security details. – With Perseus Echeminada, Danny Dangcalan