Widow bars Grace Ibuna from Ignacio Arroyo’s wake

The estranged wife of the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo is taking full control of the arrangements for his funeral, with her lawyer barring his longtime companion from the wake.

The widow’s lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, has issued instructions to family members and friends to bar businesswoman Grace Ibuna, the late lawmaker’s companion, from any of the memorial services.

Ibuna was present when the lawmaker died on Jan. 26 in London, where he was being treated for cirrhosis of the liver.

Kapunan has accused Ibuna of authorizing doctors to remove the then brain-dead lawmaker from life support.

In a text message on Friday to reporters, Alicia Morales-Arroyo said her husband’s remains were scheduled to arrive on Saturday. She said the wake would be held at the family home in La Vista, Quezon City, until Tuesday.

The body will be transferred on Tuesday to the session hall of the House of Representatives for necrological services, immediately after which it will be flown to the lawmaker’s hometown Binalbagan in Bacolod City, where it will stay until Thursday.

Later that day, the body will be flown back to Manila for burial at the North Cemetery.

“Representative Arroyo will be laid to rest beside his mother,” Alicia Arroyo said.

Church wake

In Bacolod, preparations are underway for Iggy Arroyo’s wake at the Binalbagan Catholic Church, according to Negros Occidental Board Member Melvin Ibañez, a close friend and political ally.

Ibañez said he had been told of the body’s arrival by Dina Arroyo Tantoco, a daughter of the lawmaker. He said the wake would enable the people of Negros Occidental’s fifth district to pay their last respects to their representative in Congress.

The Arroyo properties are in Binalbagan.

Asked for details about the memorial services, Ignacio Arroyo’s sister, former Kasangga Rep. Marilou Arroyo, said she did not know what was happening in London or when her brother’s remains would finally be brought home. With a report from Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas

First posted 12:22 am | Saturday, February 4th, 2012