The battle for Iggy is not over.
The camp of Aleli Arroyo, the legal wife of the late Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th District), yesterday said it is exhausting all legal measures to stop Grace Ibuna from proceeding with final arrangements for the congressman's remains in London, ABS CBN reported.
Aleli, who had gone to London and returned Saturday, said she was unable to bring the congressman’s remains home because Ibuna allegedly misrepresented herself as his next of kin.
Ibuna, long time companion of Arroyo, was with him when he passed away at the London Clinic on January 26 after a long battle with cirrhosis of the liver.
But Aleli said she had obtained a court certification in Manila that her marriage to Arroyo had not been annulled yet.
Lawyer Lorna Kapunan told ABS-CBN Ibuna supposedly filed a complaint before a British court against her client and the Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom.
Kapunan said that, aside from legal remedies, Aleli's camp will be forced to exhaust other options.
“Mrs. Arroyo intends to seek the help and assistance of Speaker of House to make proper representations to the court there or to Ms. Ibuna to respect the House and before any legal battle that she may want to file,” she said.
“There is the option of a force. We hope Ms. Ibuna, unless she changes citizenship, is a Filipino. We’re considering the option of having her passport cancelled,” she said over ABS-CBN.
Ibuna could not be reached for comment on the accusations hurled against her.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Board Member Melvin Ibañez yesterday said all plans for Arroyo’s wake in Negros and Manila are on hold until his body is brought home.He said he was told by the staff of the congressman that it could be in two days.
The body will reportedly be brought home by the congressman’s oldest daughter, Bianca.*
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