The estranged wife of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th district) has filed a petition for a permanent protection order against him claiming her life is in danger, but last night he said it is not true, and "Maybe she is just scared of her own shadow."

Lorna Kapunan, lawyer of Alicia "Aleli" Arroyo, former chairperson of the Philippine Stock Exchange, told the DAILY STAR that the petition of her client was filed before Branch 107 of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City Tuesday.

In January Rep. Arroyo filed a petition for joint custody of their 9-year-old daughter. The solon left their home in La Vista Subdivision in 2006 and his wife is accusing him of having an affair with Grace Ibuna, and of using his credit card to buy the woman expensive jewelry and cars, Kapunan said.

Arroyo denied the allegation, saying he lives in his parental home in La Vista and in Negros and not with Ibuna, formerly linked to actor Gabby Concepcion.

Kapunan said her client is the "keeper of many secrets", and she has a lot of information on the Jose Pidal account that the solon claimed to be his, and on his affairs, and that of first gentleman Mike Arroyo.

The solon, in response, told the DAILY STAR, "Well, why doesn't she come out with her alleged secrets?"

$1 MILLION INSURANCE

Kapunan also said that the solon had taken a $1 million insurance policy for his wife after they separated and that Mrs. Arroyo has noted that she was being followed by unidentified men.

But Rep. Arroyo said the insurance policy was applied for by his wife and he has the documents to prove it. That policy has lapsed and has not been renewed, he said, adding that his wife's belief that she is being followed is part of her paranoia.

The solon, in filing the petition for joint custody against her client, said he was the fit parent, opening the door for attacks on his character, Kapunan said.

Kapunan said her client did not initiate the petition as she was on a settlement mode when he filed for joint custody.

All I wanted was visitation rights to my daughter, the solon said. "All I want is to be able to see my daughter if not once every week, once every two weeks," he also said.

EFFECTS OF JOSE PIDAL SCANDAL

Ever since Arroyo got involved in politics and the Jose Pidal scandal, life changed for the worse, Mrs. Arroyo claimed in her affidavit.

The solon said he and his wife were married in 1994 but their relationship has been on the rocks for years.

He said the relationship worsened when his wife became head of of the Philippine Stock Exchange because she became "power mad".

Kapunan said that while Rep. Arroyo wants joint custody of his daughter he never shows up. She said he missed her first communion and birthday, but was at the birthday of Ibuna's daughter.

Rep. Arroyo said he was never invited to the first communion and was not allowed to see his daughter on her birthday.

Mrs. Arroyo is asking that he provide child support for their 9-year-old daughter, and the solon said that is not a problem as he is the father.

EMOTIONALLY BATTERED

Kapunan said Mrs. Arroyo is an emotionally battered wife who has had to face a philandering husband. Their daughter has also had to undergo counseling because her grades had gone down, Kapunan said.

However, the solon said, they are trying to mislead the public into believing that his wife is the aggrieved party when she is not.

"She has been overbearing from the very start and if anything I am the battered husband," he said.

Rep. Arroyo's lawyer, Perseveranda Abrenica, in a text message, said the petition for protective custody has absolutely no basis at all.

"My client's only interest is to have equal and lawful visitation rights. This petition is intended to divert the issue at hand, which is only for the purpose of visiting his daughter whom his estranged wife refuses to grant for no reason at all. The primary concern of my client is merely for the welfare of his child.

"We appeal to the public and the media to respect our privacy as this is only a purely marital problem," the lawyer said. The story broke out when Mrs. Arroyo's lawyer appeared on national television yesterday to reveal why her client had filed a petition for protective custody.*CPG

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