House necrological service for Iggy Arroyo set next week

Thursday, February 2, 2012

THE House of Representatives will hold a necrological service for the late congressman Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo of Negros Occidental next week.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. told reporters Thursday that the legal wife of Iggy, Aleli Arroyo, has sent her a text message inquiring about the necrological service.

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"It’s not a question of allowing (her to come), it is her entitlement," Belmonte clarified.

Arroyo’s legal wife has threatened to sue her husband’s partner, businesswoman Grace Ibuna, after the latter declared herself as the legal wife of the late congressman at The London Clinic.

Arroyo suffered a cardiac arrest last week and went into a coma. His life support systems were pulled out a few hours after.

Iggy, a three-term congressman, has been in London since August to seek treatment for his liver ailment. He has missed plenary sessions in the House of Representatives since then.

Iggy’s remains are expected to be brought back in the Philippines Friday. Bianca, Iggy’s eldest daughter from his first wife, Marilyn Jacinto, was reportedly tasked to take care of the funeral and repatriation plans.

Earlier, Speaker Belmonte said he will likely be the caretaker of the fifth district of Negros Occidental. Special elections, he said, is not feasible considering the amount of time a new elected congressman will occupy the post that Iggy left.

In a related development, detained former President-turned-Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has asked the court to allow her to visit the wake of her brother-in-law.

The former President filed an urgent petition before the Pasay City Regional Trial Court branch 112 Thursday.

Arroyo is currently detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City for electoral sabotage charges. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)