Ibuna gets custody
of Iggy’s remains

The ANC yesterday reported that the UK court had granted to Grace Ibuna custody over the remains of former Rep. Iggy Arroyo. A shocker to most of us, of course.

Aleli, the second wife of Iggy, protested and may appeal the court’s ruling. And that means a further prolonged court case over Iggy and his wealth.

The reports said Grace won the case with Bianca, Iggy’s eldest daughter with his first wife. Showed you the tangled marital affair of Iggy ended up with his eldest daughter allied with Grace, his long-term partner.

There was the tribute to Iggy played up by the ANC in the presence of a religious group which gave him respite during the last days before his death and sort of reconciled him with the Lord.

But the more important question – when will the remains of Iggy be brought home? Maybe as ashes? Aleli and the Arroyo family had wanted the remains of Iggy brought home intact.

The House, too, must have wanted the same.

But the UK court has given Grace Ibuna the right to Iggy’s remains actually had her first wish granted – that Iggy be cremated and his ashes placed in an urn.

Just an initial part of the drama could make Iggy remain restless in his grave.

***

The leak of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s dollar account deposit documents with the PBSP seems to point to AMLA as the possible source of the leak. But AMLA had denied having conducted an inspection of the deposits as with the Bangko Sentral of the Philippines.

Now, it seems that the BSP had another support agency with almost the same function which was believed to have been involved in the theft of the documents.

Oh, well, they are still trying to do something about the leaked documents. But I had earlier said, it was Senator Miriam Santiago who pointed out that the law was very specific that whoever was in possession of the leaked documents is both the “taker and the doer.”

Thus the onus of disproving that they were a party to the theft of the documents fall now on the shoulders of Rep. Umali and Rep. Banal of Quezon City.

In short, Umali must be able to pinpoint who the “small lady” was who gave him the leak prize. And Banal may have to substantiate his story of a “fairy godmother” who left the document at the gate of his Quezon City residence.

C’est la vie in the Philippines.

***

Today is Ash Wednesday. The main highlight is the rite of the ashes where the ashes from Palm Sunday last year are burned and used by the priest to put on the forehead of the faithful. This indicates repentance. Or conversion.

Usually, this rite is celebrated before the morning Mass, although in some instances, they are administered separately later.*

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