Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo has dispatched the daughter of his brother, Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo to London to take charge of the arrangements for the homecoming of his youngest brother, a spokesperson for the family on Friday said.
Ignacio, 61, had been staying in London the past year while being treated for cirrhosis of the liver at a private hospital. He was earlier declared clinically dead on Thursday after suffering a heart attack on Wednesday.
According to Bong Ruado, Ignacio’s chief of staff, Ignacio’s eldest daughter, Bianca, flew from Las Vegas to London on Friday and they expect Iggy’s remains to arrive here next week.
Ruado said Bianca’s Tuason cousins have also flown to London to help her, particularly with the documentation requirements. Another one of Ignacio’s daughters, Dina, could not go because she just gave birth last week, he said.
Bianca and Dina are Ignacio’s daughters from his first marriage. He is also survived by another daughter, Alelu, from his second marriage to Alicia Morales-Arroyo from whom he separated in 2006.
Caretaker
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said that “following our custom, the House will ensure that the needs of Representative Arroyo’s constituency will be addressed despite his passing.”
The Negros Occidental provincial elections supervisor Jessie Suarez said Congress would have to request for a special election although a caretaker could be assigned to represent Arroyo’s district.
Suarez, however, doubted whether an election can still be held since the next regular polls will be in May 2013.
Provincial board member Melvin Ibañez, the Kampi chair in Negros, said he was told that no special election can be held 18 months before a regular election.
Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the poll body would immediately discuss the matter of a special election, after it receives the House resolution on the vacancy.
“What happens usually is if there’s a resolution passed by the House, it would be sent to us and then we act on it,” Sarmiento said.
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III said there will be a necrological service for Ignacio at the House.
“During his tenure in Congress, Representative (Ignacio) Arroyo advocated for the empowerment of the youth, the welfare of children, and for environmental protection and preservation,” Belmonte said of Ignacio.
Hometown tribute
Officials in Ignacio’s native Negros Occidental paid tribute to the late congressman.
“He was a humble guy yet a real performer when it came to public service,” said EB Magalona Mayor David Lacson, president of the Association of Chief Executives and the League of Municipalities in the Philippines in Negros Occidental.
Lacson said he still could not believe that Ignacio had passed away.
“He (Ignacio Arroyo) was a good man, a real statesman who showed simplicity all throughout his leadership in the 5th district,” the mayor said.
Ibañez also said that like many officials in Negros, he was saddened by the death of a close friend and political mentor.
Well-loved
Ignacio’s sister, former Kasangga Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, said the plan is for Ignacio to be buried at the family mausoleum in Manila, beside their mother, Lourdes Tuason Arroyo.
However, his remains may be brought to Negros for a brief wake in the 5th district where he was well-loved, she said.
“We are all very sad. Iggy (Ignacio) was our youngest,” Ma. Lourdes said. Jose Miguel is their eldest brother.
She said she did not know the details of how the decision was made to remove Ignacio’s life support because she was not there.
Ignacio was with his partner, Grace Ibuna, who accompanied him to London.
Ma. Lourdes said it could take some time for the remains to be brought home because a coroner would have to conduct an autopsy, as required in Britain.
Special polls
The Commission on Elections on Friday said it was ready to hold special polls to fill up the vacancy in the House of Representatives created by Ignacio’s death.
But the House must first declare the seat vacant before the Comelec can act, said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.
He said the declaration of a vacancy should be made as soon as the law provides that congressional vacancies may only be filled if they take place one year before the expiration of the term.
“The cut-off is one year before the next elections,” he said.
Republic Act No. 7166, or the Synchronized Election Act of 1991, provides that in case a permanent vacancy occurs in the House of Representatives at least one year before the expiration of the term, the Comelec shall call and hold a special election to fill the vacancy not earlier than 60 days nor longer than 90 days after the occurrence of the vacancy.
Ignacio, the brother of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel, was on his third and last term as the representative of Negros Occidental’s 5th district, which covers Himamaylan City and the towns of Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana and Moises Padilla.
The Comelec is currently preparing a special election to be held on Feb. 4 to fill up the seat vacated by Zambales 2nd legislative district Rep. Antonio Diaz, who died on Aug. 3 last year.
First posted 12:22 am | Saturday, January 28th, 2012