GMA visit to Iggy wake off limits to media

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyer of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced yesterday that her visit to the wake of her brother-in-law Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo at La Vista subdivision in Quezon City on Saturday is off limits to the media.

Lawyer Benjamin Santos told The STAR that Arroyo’s visit will be purely a family affair and newsmen will not be allowed to cover the event.

“It’s off limits to media and the security guards at La Vista will take care of the screening of visitors,” he said.

Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court has allowed the former president to leave the Veterans Medical Memorial Center (VMMC) to visit the wake from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 1 at the Arroyo family’s ancestral home in La Vista.

Santos admitted, however, that all plans are tentative until Iggy’s remains arrive from London. The remains are scheduled to arrive tonight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

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

In case the remains will not arrive, Santos would file another manifestation two days before the scheduled visit to the wake to allow the police time to prepare the security plan.

Santos had earlier asked the court for a three-day furlough for Arroyo from March 1 to 3 at her La Vista residence, but the court only granted an 8-hour pass.

Prosecutors led by lawyer Esmeralda Ladra who had filed the electoral sabotage charges against the former president have opposed the motion and insisted on limiting the visit to only three hours when Iggy’s remains are transferred to the House of Representatives where necrological services would be held.

Ladra argued that the Congress visit is more appropriate since both Arroyo and Iggy are members of Congress.

She also said that the former president should shoulder all the expenses including the food of the police personnel who will provide them security.

Iggy’s remains are set to arrive at around 9:40 tonight accompanied by his long-time partner Grace Ibuna, daughters Garie Concepcion and Bianca Arroyo on board Emirates flight EK 332.

The remains would be kept in a refrigerated crypt after several days of delay caused by various documentation requirements in London.

Sources said that the remains of Iggy will be immediately brought to Arlington funeral homes in Quezon City and then transferred to the Arroyo ancestral home in 14 Badjao Street, La Vista for the first three days of the wake.

The body will be taken to neighboring 17 Badjao Street, Iggy’s former conjugal house with his estranged wife Alicia Rita “Aleli” at noon, where it will lie until the next morning.

Necrological services would be held at the House of Representatives plenary hall on Monday (March 5) before the body will be flown to Bacolod City. Wake will be held at the family house in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental from March 5 to 8.

Burial would be held on March 9, Friday, at the family mausoleum in the North Cemetery in Manila.

Sources said that the remains of Iggy are included in the flight manifest for the Wednesday flight back to Manila from London via Dubai and expected to be released at the Pair Cargo warehouse on the same night.

Source also said that some $10,000 was paid for the shipment of the remains.

Because an amicable settlement has been reached, the camp of Iggy’s estranged wife Aleli has agreed to withdraw the petition she filed before a Quezon City Regional trial Court for custody of her husband’s body.

She earlier wanted the court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a writ of injunction against Ibuna and Iggy’s daughter Bianca Arroyo.

In last Tuesday’s hearing presided over by Branch 92 Judge Eleuterio Bathan, Aleli’s counsel Athena Zosa informed the court that since Ibuna’s camp already allowed her client to bring the remains of the late congressman to their conjugal home at La Vista, the petition is being withdrawn.

Maria Soledad Mawis, lawyer of Iggy’s daughters Bianca and Bernardina Arroyo-Tantoco, said her clients have also approved the funeral schedule that has been agreed upon. Bianca and Bernardina are Iggy’s daughters with his first wife Marilyn Jacinto. With Rudy Santos