My father had no secret bank accounts, says Iggy's daughter

Manila, Philippines -  The daughter of the late Negros Occidental congressman Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo asked the Aquino administration yesterday to leave her father in peace, saying he had no secret bank accounts.

“It is a hard time for us as we are still grieving the loss of someone so dear to us. It is not true that he has secret accounts,” Dina Arroyo Tantoco said in a text message to The STAR.

Tantoco made the plea after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reportedly plans to freeze the bank deposits of the late lawmaker as the agency determines the value of his estate.

The BIR also said Arroyo’s heirs must pay an estate tax based on the value of properties and bank deposits within six months of his death.

Tantoco said her family would file the right taxes at the appropriate time.

“We will be filing and taking the proper action when the deadline comes. Right now we are still working to gather information on his assets,” she said.

“He (Arroyo) can no longer answer this new round of accusations against him. Our only prayer is for them to stop this (persecution) against our family, especially against our father. He’s already dead. They should have pity on him,” she added.

Arroyo died last Jan. 26 in London after a long battle with cirrhosis of the liver. His long-time partner, Grace Ibuna, is the beneficiary of his estate, while Tantoco is the estate administrator.