REMAINS ARRIVE IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL / NEGRENSES SAY FAREWELL
MANILA, MARCH 9, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Danny Dangcalan (The
remains of Rep. Iggy Arroyo arrive at the Bacolod-Silay airport Monday night,
accompanied by his long-time partner Grace Ibuna (second from left) with his
daughters Bernardina (third from left) and Bianca (fifth from left) and Ibuna's
children Jolo (left) and Gabrielle. Serge Santillan)
The remains of Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo arrived Monday night in Hinigaran
town, Negros Occidental where they will stay for three days to give his former
constituents the chance to pay their last respects.
One of Iggy's last wishes was to have his body brought home to his
constituents in the 5th District, according to his long-time partner Grace
Ibuna.
"Mahal niya lahat ng mga taga-5th district (He loved everyone in the 5th
district)," Ibuna said tearfully when interviewed by mediamen upon arrival at
the Bacolod-Silay Airport at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Iggy's remains were accompanied by Ibuna, his brother former first gentleman
Jose Miguel Arroyo, his daughters Bianca and Bernardina, and Ibuna's children
Gabrielle, Jolo, and Rafaela, and other members of the Arroyo family.
"We love him very much and I missed him. We have so many memories together,"
said the elder Arroyo.
Ibuna said that before his death in London on Jan. 26, Iggy asked her to
return to Negros Occidental but she did not leave his side.
When asked what were his last words to her, she did not answer and just wept.
"I hope you still keep on praying for Congressman Arroyo. He was a good man and
his heart belongs here," she added.
Ibuna disclosed that she is planning to put up a foundation under Iggy's
name, possibly for health or education.
When asked if she walked out during the necrological rites for Iggy at the
House of Representatives, Ibuna said she just went to the restroom. "If it was a
sin, I confess," she said.
Meanwhile, former board member Enrique Miguel "Guding" Lacson said hundreds
of Iggy's supporters lined up the streets of Hinigaran town to welcome his
remains.
Iggy's body will remain at St. Mary Magdalene Church until Thursday. A Mass
is scheduled today at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. to be attended by Negros Occidental
officials led by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. Sendoff rites are set tomorrow at 3
a.m. before the remains are flown back to Manila.
FROM MANILA BULLETIN
Negrenses Say Farewell To Solon By TARA YAP March
9, 2012, 12:23am
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. — Negrenses paid their last respects to the late
Negros Representative (Fifth District) Ignacio Tuason Arroyo, with thousands
crowding St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hinigaran town Wednesday night to see the
remains of the lawmaker who succumbed to liver disease in London last January
26.
The lawmaker's body was in Hinigaran since Monday night and was flown back to
Manila early yesterday, Thursday morning for burial at the Manila North Cemetery
today.
The almost three-day wake in Hinigaran was mired in controversy as Iggy's
second wife Aleli and his live-in partner Grace Ibuna were both present.
Both women avoided each other by sitting at opposite sides of the church.
However, it was Ibuna along with Bernardina Arroyo-Tantoco, Iggy's daughter
from his first wife, Marilen Jacinto, who took the body back to Manila.
Arroyo, brother-in-law of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was on
his third and final term as the representative of the fifth legislative district
of Negros Occidental when he died.
He came into the limelight in 2003 when he claimed ownership of the
multi-million peso Jose Pidal bank account linked to his brother and former
First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo.
According to Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, the Jose Pidal bank account is one
of the many fictitious bank accounts of the former First Gentleman in which he
laundered more than R200 million in contributions for his wife's 2004
presidential elections.
FROM
http://www.ndb-online.com/negros-occidental/hinigaran
Hinigaran: Local News: Love Overflowsfor Iggy
Submitted by Danny Dangcalan on Thu, 03/08/2012 - 10:29 Alfredo
Maranon Danny Dangcalan Himamaylan City Hinigaran Iggy Arroyo Local News
Messages of love and sympathy for the late Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo and his
family overflowed at the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hinigaran town last night,
during the concelebrated Mass on the last of the three nights of his wake here
before his remains are flown back to Manila today.
[Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr., Vice Gov. Genaro M. Alvarez,
Jr. (7th and 11th from right) with Board Members Salvador Escalante, Jr., Helen
Zafra, George Gitano, Mae Javellana, Melvin Ibañez, Nehemias Dela Cruz, Miller
Serondo, and Pedro Zayco with provincial scholars from different cities and
municipalities of Negros Occidental received their cash assistance at the
Capitol, yesterday. The scholars received P2,500 each for the Prov'l second
semester of this school year.*(Capitol
photo)]
[Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. and Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez,
Jr. (1st and 2nd from left) extend to Mike Arroyo (3rd from right) the
Resolution of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members extending sincere condolences
to the family of the late Rep. Iggy Arroyo during the provincial official's
visit in Hinigaran, yesterday, as 5th District Board Member Melvin Ibañez,
Marilou Arroyo and Himamaylan City Vice Mayor Carminia Bascon look on.*(Capitol photo)]
[PHOTO - MEDIA IN HINIGARAN CHURCH. Rep. Iggy's wake in Hinigaran town,
an hour drive south of Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, is also being pursued
by Metro Manila-based giant TV networks. Above, TV 5 reporter Michelle Mediana
and her cameraman. Below, the news coverage facilities of GMA 7 with reporter
Kara David (not in photo) readying for the set yesterday. ABS-CBN also has a
live coverage facility beside the Hinigaran Catholic church.* (Arman Toga photos)]
Local News: Aleli-Grace word war continues at Iggy's wake
Submitted by Danny Dangcalan on Wed, 03/07/2012 - 07:35 Bacolod City
Binalbagan Danny Dangcalan Hinigaran Iggy Arroyo Local News National News
Tension filled the air at the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hinigaran where a
three-night wake for Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo is being held, as the two women
in his life stood just several feet from each other yesterday.
[Rep. Iggy's wife Aleli Arroyo (second from right), and her
daughter Alelu (3rd from right) visit the wake of Rep. Iggy Arroyo on their
arrival yesterday at the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hinigaran, one of the
towns in the 5th District of Negros Occ., yesterday.*]
Constituents of the 5th District, some government officials, and reporters
watched with bated breath as Grace Ibuna, his long-time companion, was sitting
near the coffin, seemingly oblivious to Aleli Arroyo, his second legal wife,
entering the church with her entourage and proceeded straight to the coffin.
Local News: Iggy Finally Home in 5th District
Submitted by Danny Dangcalan on Tue, 03/06/2012 - 16:49 Alfredo Maranon
Bacolod-Silay Airport Binalbagan Danny Dangcalan Himamaylan City Hinigaran Iggy
Arroyo Local News
As part of his last wishes, the remains of Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo were
brought to the 5th District last night, where a three-day wake is held for him
in Hinigaran town.
[The remains of Rep. Iggy Arroyo arrives at the
Bacolod-Silay Airport last night, accompanied by his long-time partner Grace
Ibuna (2nd from left) with his daughters Bernardina (3rd from left) and Bianca
(5th from left), and Ibuna's children Jolo (left) Gabrielle (4th from left), and
Rafaela (not in photo.) Also accompanying the remains are his brother, former
First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and his sister Marilou. His remains will lie in
state at the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hinigaran until Wednesday.*(SERGE SANTILLAN PHOTO)]
It was Iggy's last wish to have his body brought home to the 5th District,
said Grace Ibuna, his long-time partner, who accompanied the remains.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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