Iggy Arroyo brain dead

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Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo is brain dead in a London hospital, his staff told Radyo Inquirer.

Arroyo’s chief of staff Bong Ruado made the clarification after the family of the lawmaker earlier announced that he died of cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment for a liver ailment.

But Ruado said that Arroyo has been hooked to the life support system and doctors were waiting for his family’s decision whether to pull the plug.

Earlier, Arroyo’s brother and former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo told Radyo Inquirer 990AM that Iggy Arroyo had died.

The news was also confirmed by House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap, who told the Inquirer that it was relayed to her by Occidental Mindoro Representative Amelita Villarosa, a close friend of the Arroyo family.

Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer for Mike Arroyo, also earlier said the lawmaker succumbed to cardiac arrest around 11 p.m. Wednesday (about 7 a.m. Thursday Manila time) at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London

“The doctors tried to revive him, but he went into a coma. He died a few hours later,” Topacio said over the phone.

For the report, listen to Radyo Inquirer 990AM. With reports from Cynthia D. Balana and Marlon Ramos, Philippine Daily Inquirer