TRO sought on Iggy remains

MANILA, Philippines - Calling Grace Ibuna a “mistress,” Alicia Rita “Aleli” Arroyo has sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) and injunction to stop Ibuna from laying claim to the remains of Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo.

In a petition she filed with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92 on Monday, Aleli also accused Arroyo’s eldest child Bianca of conspiring with Ibuna.

The 61-year-old Iggy died of a heart attack last Jan. 26 in London. He had been staying in London since October to seek treatment for

cirrhosis of the liver.

In the same petition, Aleli cited what she thought was Ibuna’s motive for claiming Arroyo’s remains.

“It may be safe to assume that Grace is expediting the burial in accordance with her wishes so that she can already set her hands on Rep. Arroyo’s estate, which is half-owned by Mrs. Arroyo,” said Aleli.

Aleli said that with the case on the annulment of her marriage with Iggy still pending in court, she remains the legal wife of the deceased lawmaker.

In the petition filed by her lawyers led by Lorna Kapunan, Aleli said she was in a “better position to know the wishes and desire of Rep. Arroyo.”

“A few years of lustful relationship cannot overturn 12 years of love and companionship,” the petition said.

Aleli said she is the surviving spouse and has the authority over the burial and custody of the body of the deceased.

She cited Sections 1103 and 1104 of the Revised Administrative Code, and Articles 305 and 294 of the Civil Code.

Aleli said that she and Iggy were married on March 26, 1994. They have a daughter Alicia Lourdes or Alelu who is now 14.

She claimed that the lawmaker’s “dalliance” with Ibuna prompted Iggy to leave their home in 2006 to be with his mistress.

“Despite earnest efforts by Mrs. Arroyo to win Rep. Arroyo back, he never returned to their conjugal home and they have been separated ever since,” Aleli’s petition said.

“Up until Grace seduced and successfully managed to lure Rep. Arroyo to separate from Mrs. Arroyo, Rep. Arroyo and Mrs. Arroyo had a blissful marriage,” the petition said.

When Iggy died on Jan. 26, Aleli was shocked to find out that Ibuna had claimed the lawmaker’s remains.

She said Ibuna even filed a case before a London court and asked that the remains not be delivered to any other person but her.

“She (Ibuna) openly alluded to Rep. Arroyo as her husband,” Aleli’s petition said.

“Grace, acting in concert with Bianca (Rep. Arroyo’s eldest daughter), continues to refuse to acknowledge Arroyo’s status as legal wife,” the petition said.

According to Aleli, the “atrocity” was not only causing her and her daughter material harm but also psychological harm.

Petitioner claimed that Ibuna “made it difficult for Aleli and Alelu to see him (Iggy).” It added that because of this, Alelu failed to spend quality time with her father before he died.

Aleli asked the court to direct Ibuna and Bianca to “produce, surrender and turn over the remains of Rep. Arroyo” to her.

During the hearing yesterday, Aleli told the court it was Rep. Arroyo’s wish for his wake to be held at their conjugal house.

Aleli also said there was an instance when the lawmaker had wanted to buy a lot at the Loyola Memorial Park near the grave of his father, saying it would be nice if his family would visit him there.

But lawyer Leonard de Vera, who represents Ibuna, asked if this wish was only told to Aleli and not put by the lawmaker in writing.

“Three years ago before he (Rep. Arroyo) died, there was a notarized expression of his wish unlike the say-so of the witness (Aleli),” De Vera said.

“In all the vast powers given to the trustee, never was Aleli mentioned,” he said, saying the names of Ibuna and Rep. Arroyo’s older daughter Bernardina were there.

“When we talk about the expressed will of the deceased as to who will take care of himself, the petitioner (Aleli) has been excluded. She never was a factor in the mind of Mr. Arroyo when he was making final decisions about his body and properties,” De Vera said.

Judge Eleuterio Bathan clarified that he had ordered the summary hearing because he had wanted to expedite the ruling on whether a TRO should be issued.

Considering yesterday was the fourth day since the petition was filed, Bathan reminded both parties not to blame the court for the delay in the issuance of the TRO.