Return of Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo remains indefinite

MANILA, Philippines—The arrival from London of the body of Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo remains indefinite, according to lawyer Leonard de Vera.

Arroyo’s body was scheduled to arrive on Friday night from London via Dubai, accompanied by longtime partner Grace Ibuna.

The congressman died in London on Jan. 26.

De Vera, Ibuna’s counsel, said paperwork needed for the repatriation caused the delay.

He explained that the repatriation involved the Philippine consulate, the mortuary, airline and the court, among others.

He said there was no new schedule so far but the delay would be just “a matter of a few days.”

In a telephone interview with the Inquirer, De Vera said Arroyo would definitely be brought home soon. He stressed the delay had nothing to do with previous disagreements between Ibuna and Arroyo’s estranged wife Aleli.

Ibuna, who claimed custody of the body, and Aleli had already agreed on arrangements for the wake and funeral.

De Vera said there was no change in the agreement reached on Tuesday evening among the lawyers of  Aleli, Ibuna  and Bernardina Arroyo-Tantoco, the congressman’s daughter  by his first wife, Marilyn Jacinto.

Aleli’s lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said that after the Friday arrival was postponed, they were told by Philippine Consul General Bernadette Fernandez in London the remains would arrive on Saturday.

After another delay was announced, she said “no new schedule was given.”

“We’re still waiting for an update on when the remains will be brought to Manila,” Kapunan said.

‘Wives’ could cross paths

A face-to-face meeting between Arroyo’s “wives” could happen at the necrological rites for the late congressman at the House of Representatives and at the funeral. Arroyo will be interred in the family mausoleum at North Cemetery in Manila.

“I will be there with my daughter to witness his colleagues honor him,” Aleli replied when asked by the Inquirer if she would attend the ceremony in Congress.

Asked if his client would also attend the ceremony at the Batasan complex, De Vera told the Inquirer, “It’s a public place. You cannot stop anyone from attending the event.’’

Under the agreement among the women, Aleli would be in charge of Arroyo’s interment.

Injunction

Aleli earlier filed an injunction case against Ibuna to seek sole custody of Arroyo’s body.

But with the out-of-court agreement among the women, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92 Judge Reynaldo Bathan, who was hearing the injunction case, said he would order the dismissal of the suit as soon as Aleli’s lawyers had  submitted the signed agreement.

Lawyer Athena Zosa, Aleli’s counsel, said, “In the absence of the signed agreement, the petition for injunction is still pending.”

She said they were still waiting for confirmation of the flight details for the return of Arroyo’s body before submitting the agreement to the court.

Zosa said the consul general of the Philippine Embassy in London was in touch with Aleli and would inform her when the body was put in the plane.

Based on the schedule announced on Wednesday, the body will be brought first to the Arroyos’ ancestral home in La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City before they are moved for the wake in the home of Aleli, also in the same subdivision.

After the necrological service at the House of Representatives, the remains will be flown to Bacolod City, then brought back to Manila for interment at the North Cemetery.