Court dismisses case over Iggy's body

MANILA, Philippines - The civil case filed by Aleli Arroyo against Grace Ibuna for custody of the remains of the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo was officially dismissed yesterday.

This was after the two women and the lawmaker’s two daughters also submitted yesterday their compromise agreement on the funeral arrangements for Rep. Arroyo’s remains.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92 Judge Eleuterio Bathan directed the parties to “faithfully observe and respect” what they had agreed upon.

“Without admitting any of the material allegations in the petition in the subject case, the parties agree to settle the wake and interment schedule of the late Rep. Ignacio T. Arroyo Jr.,” the compromise agreement stated.

The agreement was signed by Ibuna’s lawyer; Aleli and her lawyer; Bernardina Arroyo Tantoco; Bianca Arroyo through Bernardina; and the two daughters’ lawyers.

The agreement was received by the court yesterday morning.

“After the arrangements agreed upon herein are executed, the parties will jointly move for the dismissal of the subject case with prejudice,” the agreement stated.

Following the submission, Bathan issued the order.

“Finding the stipulation in the compromised agreement not contrary to law, morals and public policy and public order, the same is hereby approved, the instant case is deemed considered terminated,” the order stated.

The remains of Arroyo were brought home by Ibuna, his live-in partner from London late Wednesday.

The remains were brought to the Arroyo ancestral house in La Vista subdivision yesterday morning.

Under the agreement, the remains will also be brought to the conjugal house of Aleli and Rep. Arroyo also in La Vista, to the House of Representatives, to Bacolod and back to the ancestral house before burial at Manila North Cemetery.

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, on the other hand, was allowed to visit the wake and spent eight hours out of detention yesterday.

A convoy of policemen brought her out of Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) to the ancestral house of the Arroyos in La Vista subdivision where lay her brother-in-law’s remains.

Some 30 policemen from the Police Security Protection Group, the Highway Patrol Group and the Quezon City Police District escorted the former president as she was taken out of VMMC at 8 a.m. yesterday.

The Pasay court hearing the electoral sabotage charges against Arroyo allowed the former president a furlough starting from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. She is under hospital arrest at VMMC.

Wearing a black dress and her neck brace, the former president was accompanied by her husband Jose Miguel and children Dato, Mikey and Luli.

Mrs. Arroyo was also joined by her lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.

Policemen were tasked to guard the gates and entry of people leading to La Vista.

Authorities said this was not to disturb the privacy of homeowners.

Some 10 members of the PSPG were on guard by the gates and inside the compound of the Arroyo ancestral house.

PSPG personnel were also posted near the former president at the wake at the Arroyo family’s ancestral residence.

The Pampanga lawmaker was accompanied by her immediate family when she left La Vista at exactly 4:06 p.m.

Among those who attended the wake were former Arroyo cabinet members Mike Defensor and Agnes Devanadera with several other congressmen.