Court resets GMA's 'return' to La Vista

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 today set a tentative date for the return of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to her residence at the La Vista subdivision in Quezon City to attend the wake of her late brother-in-law, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo.

Pasay City RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas allowed Mrs. Arroyo to attend the wake on March 1 (Thursday) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arroyo's ancestral house at the posh La Vista subdivision.

The court said that the schedule may be reset again if the arrival of the remains of the congressman is delayed anew.

Last week, the court issued a ruling, allowing Mrs. Arroyo to visit her brother-in-law at La Vista on February 25 (Saturday). The schedule, however, did not push through because the congressman's body was not flown to the country from London, where he passed away after suffering from a heart attack on January 26.

The 60-year-old lawmaker’s body has been in a mortuary in London for nearly a month since he died. He suffered a heart attack while undergoing treatment as an outpatient for liver cirrhosis.

Meanwhile, in a hearing at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, the estranged wife of the late congressman, Aleli, told reporters that as soon as the remains arrive on Wednesday, it will be brought directly to the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City for preparation.

It will then be transferred to the La Vista ancestral house on Thursday and then brought to the House of Representatives' building, also in Quezon City, on Saturday.

The interment was set on March 9, Friday.