Hometown preparing for wake of Iggy Arroyo

BACOLO CITY, Philippines— Preparations are underway for the wake of Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo in Binalbagan town, a local official said on Friday.

Negros Occidental Board Member Melvin Ibañez, a close friend and political ally of the late congressman, said Arroyo’s remains are scheduled to arrive Saturday in Manila, where a two to three-day wake would be held at the House of Representatives.

He said Arroyo’s remains would then be flown to Negros Occidental for a wake of about two days at the Binalbagan Catholic Church in the late lawmaker’s hometown and then returned to Manila, where Arroyo will finally be laid to rest in the family mausoleum at North Cemetery.

Ibañez said he has been overseeing preparations for the wake in Binalbagan after Dina Arroyo-Tantoco, a daughter of Arroyo, had informed him that her father’s remains would be brought to Negros Occidental.

The properties of the Arroyos are in Binalbagan.

The wake, Ibañez said, would enable the people of Negros Occidental’s fifth district to pay their last respects to their representative in Congress.

Former Kasangga party-list Rep. Marilou Arroyo, sister of the late congressman, said they would only be able to give a specific date of the wake once the remains of her brother arrive in the Philippines and borught to Negros Occidental.

Arroyo died on January 26 in London, where he was receiving treatment for cirrhosis of the liver, after he was taken off life support following a heart attack.

His longtime companion, businesswoman Grace Ibuna, was with him at the time of his death.

However, Alicia Morales-Arroyo, estranged wife of the congressman, has gone to London to claim his remains, asserting her legal rights.

Marilou Arroyo, for her part, said she did not know what was happening in London and when her brother’s remains would finally be brought home.