Iggy’s remains arrive in Manila

Manila — Finally, after several postponements, the remains of the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo were flown back to Manila from London Wednesday night.

Iggy’s remains arrived at the Ninoy Aquino Intermational Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 from London via Dubai on board Emirates Airlines flight EK 334 around 9:45 p.m. The remains were accompanied on the same flight by his long-time partner Grace Ibuna, her daughter Gabrielle and one of his daughters, Bianca Arroyo.

Ibuna broke down in tears as she, along with her and Iggy’s daughters, met her family at the airport.

In an interview, Ibuna said she only wanted a dignified burial for her partner and she vowed to fulfill, what she claimed was Iggy’s last wish, to come home to Negros Occidental. Before he died, Iggy wanted her to come home to check on his constituents, Ibuna said. “But because of his condition … I hope his constituents would understand. I did not entrust him to anybody else because I want to personally take care of him.”

“He loved his constituents dearly,” she added. “Even up to the last moment, he tried to be strong. He told everyone that he was coming home This is such a surprise that he would be coming home this way.”

She also stressed that the battle between her and Aleli was not about money.

“For the record, it wasn’t for money. But you would understand that this is not the proper forum for me to discuss anything about that. But I promise all of you that through my lawyer, I will answer all your questions in due time. Just give us time to grieve right now.”

Like in the old days, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo played host yesterday to her political allies in a sort of a reunion at the wake for the late Negros Occidental representative in her La Vista home.

Making the most of her eight-hour furlough from detention at a government hospital, Arroyo hosted lunch for former members of her Cabinet and a slew of politicians, mostly members of the House of Representatives, in her sprawling home at No. 14 Badjao St. in the Quezon City subdivision.

Wearing a neck brace, she looked relaxed in a black floral dress as she greeted, chatted and mingled with guests, who came to pay their respects to Iggy in an otherwise solemn, strictly private affair at her home that was crawling with policemen.

The VIPs included Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., former senator Francisco Tatad, former Justice secretary Agnes Devanadera, former presidential legal counsel Raul Gonzalez, former Agrarian Reform secretary Nasser Pangandaman, former Press secretary Rigoberto Tiglao and former Press undersecretary Mike Defensor, among others.

The former president, her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo, children Kasangga party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, and Ma. Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, their grandchildren, and the rest of the brood had a lively chatter over breakfast. Some of the guests joined them.

Iggy Arroyo’s remains will be brought to the Arroyo ancestral home on 14 Badjao Street in La Vista Subdivision until March 3.

The body will be moved to the House of Representatives on March 5 for a necrological service. At 4 p.m. that day, the remains will be flown to Bacolod to allow the late solon’s constituents to pay their last respects until March 7. The interment is scheduled on March 9 at the Manila North Cemetery. /INQUIRER