Court sets date for Arroyo’s visit to Iggy’s wake

THE Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has set a tentative date for the visit of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the wake of her brother-in-law, Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo.

Pasay City RTC branch 112 spokesperson Felda Domingo said Presiding Judge Jesus Mupas allowed Arroyo to attend the wake at their ancestral residence at 14 Badjao Street, La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City on Thursday, March 1, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Tentative pa po yung date kasi di pa nga naiuuwi ang bangkay ni Congressman Iggy pero pumayag na si Judge na bumisita si dating Pangulong Arroyo sa Huwebes,” Domingo said.

Iggy’s body is expected to arrive in the country from London Wednesday night.

Domingo said the schedule for Arroyo’s visit may be reset again if the arrival of the remains of the congressman is delayed anew.

She said, though, that Mupas junked a request of Arroyo’s camp for her to be allowed to stay at their residence from March 1 to 3. The Comelec opposed this request, saying it is tantamount to a furlough.

On March 3, Iggy’s body will be brought to 17 Badjao Street, the conjugal home of Arroyo with his legal wife, Alicia Rita Arroyo.

The remains will be transferred to the House of Representatives on March 5 for the necrological services.

From March 5 to 7, Iggy’s remains will stay in Bacolod City to allow his constituents to pay their last respects. On March 8, it will be returned to Manila and brought once again to the Arroyo’s ancestral home.

The burial is set on March 9 beside the grave of the congressman’s mother at the Manila North Cemetery.

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 for liver cirrhosis. (AH/Sunnex)