Fight is over Rep. Ignacio Arroyo’s assets, says lawyer

MANILA, Philippines—The tug-of-war over the remains of Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo is now turning out to be a fight over the supposedly huge fortune he left behind.

Lawyer Lorna Kapunan, counsel of Ignacio’s legal wife Alicia “Aleli” Arroyo, claimed that Ignacio’s long-time companion, Grace Ibuna, had come out with documents showing Ignacio’s last will to prove that she had sole right over his body and also his assets.

“Ibuna betrays her real intentions when she produced in the UK court documents purportedly signed by Congressman Iggy naming her as the beneficiary of all his assets, excluding the legal wife and three daughters,” said Kapunan in a text message to the Inquirer.

Kapunan said the UK court was apparently not satisfied with the documents provided by Ibuna to facilitate the release of Ignacio’s body from the funeral parlor.

“We have been reliably informed that Grace Ibuna, for insufficient evidence, was not able to get a court order granting her application for release of Iggy’s remains to her. The UK  court ordered Ibuna and the parties  to submit more documents to the court on Feb. 13, 15 and 17 and to present (via teleconference) an expert on Philippine law in the next hearing on Feb. 20,” said Kapunan.

Kapunan had accompanied Aleli in her futile attempt to bring home Ignacio’s remains a week after the younger sibling of former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo died of a heart attack in a London clinic with Ibuna at his bedside.

Although Aleli and Ignacio separated in 2005, the couple’s marriage has not been annulled, according to Kapunan. Under Philippine law, Kapunan said the legal wife had primary rights over the remains of her husband, ahead of his children, parents and siblings.

Kapunan said she had advised Aleli not to participate in the proceedings because “the UK court has no jurisdiction over Philippine citizens nor competence in Philippine law.”

With the legal actions taken by Ibuna to assert her right over Ignacio, Kapunan said Ibuna should shoulder all the blame for the continued delay in the repatriation of Ignacio’s remains. “The legal wife Alicia just wants to bury him in peace,” said Kapunan.