MANILA, Philippines -- Will President Macapagal-Arroyo pay her last respects to one of the most able members of her official family, but who joined calls for her resignation not long ago?

Ms Arroyo has sent a wreath to formally express her condolences for the untimely death of her former budget secretary, Emila Boncodin.

The flowers bearing a message from the First Couple occupied a prominent place at the Assumption chapel of the Sta. Maria Della Strada Church in Quezon City where Boncodin?s remains lay, according to presidential spokesperson Ricardo Saludo.

Saludo said the placement of the flowers suggested that the family had ?accepted the condolences from the President.?

But whether Ms Arroyo will personally visit the former member of her Cabinet, who succumbed to a lingering kidney ailment Monday, is another story.

Asked why the President had not showed up, Saludo talked about her ?other appointments.?

Boncodin was among the 10 Cabinet officials?also known as the ?Hyatt 10??who bolted the administration and demanded her resignation in 2005 in the face of allegations that Ms Arroyo had manipulated the results of the presidential election the year before.

Saludo could not say if the Hyatt 10 breakaway was preventing Ms Arroyo from going to the wake.

?You know, I?m not even sure it that?s still an issue. It?s been a while?I don?t know if it?s (still) an issue,? he said.