Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo’s partner, Grace Ibuna, and his daughter, Bernardina Arroyo-Tantoco, have been granted joint custody of his remains by the Royal Court of Justice in London, their solicitor disclosed.

As of yesterday no date had been set yet for the return of hisremains to the Philippinesafter Justice Peter Smith ruled in favor of Ibuna and Tantoco, but his family and friends hope it will be soon.

Ibuna told the DAILY STAR she is winding up details with her solicitor and barrister on the return ofArroyo’sremains to the country.

“I just thank God my prayers were answered…we’ll see everyone home soon,” she also told ABS-CBN.

Arroyo named Tantoco the executor of his will. The congressman from the fifth district of Negros Occidental also gave the right to handle his burial to Ibuna and Tantoco.

The congressman, who was battling with cirrhosis of the liver, died in London on January 26, but a battle over the custody of his body between Ibuna and his second wife Aleli Arroyo has delayed its return. Arroyo left Aleli in June 2006 and, up to the time of his death in London, was being cared for by Ibuna.

He is to be buried beside his mother at the family mausoleum in theNorth Cemetery in Manila.

Yesterday his sister, Marilou Arroyo, said they still did not know when her brother’s remains would be brought home, but they hope it will be soon.

"We have been getting our news from the television, we have no legal right over the matter," she said.

"I am sure his three daughters will do what is right for their father, we will respect what they want," Marilou Arroyo said.

Board Member Melvin Ibañez (Neg. Occ., 5th District), a close friend of Arroyo, also said they have not been informed yet when the remains of Arroyo would return.

“We do not know if there will be further legal delays when the body arrives in Manila and whether it will still be brought to the fifth district of Negros Occidental,” Ibañez said.

"The congressman's friends and supporters hope his remains will be returned to the Philippines soon and that he is allowed a dignified burial," Ibañez said.

An agreement between the camp of Ibuna and Aleli Arroyo reportedly is being worked out to allow the congressman to be peacefully buried in the Philippines.

Eileen Barry, a London-based solicitor, issued a statement to the media in London posted on the ABS-CBN website after Smith’s ruling Monday afternoon, stating that her clients, Ibuna and Tantoco, are very relieved that a decision had been madeby Smith “granting them joint letter of administration to allow them to take the body of congressman Ignacio Tuason Arroyo home to the Philippines to be buried according to his wishes.”

“It has been a very painful and distressing time for the family and Grace and Bernardina are very thankful that’s they can now proceed to make the arrangements to bury their partner and their father in a dignified and respectful way and to allow everyone in the Philippines to have a chance to pay their last respects at long last to the congressman so that he can finally be laid to rest. That’s all the family would like to say for the moment and I’d ask you to respect their grieving," she added.*CPG

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