Thousands welcome Iggy
BY CARLA GOMEZ

About 6,000 people, many carrying torches and some teary eyed, lined a 200 meter-stretch of the road and filled the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Hinigaran to welcome the remains of Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr. last night.

Some carried placards saying “Congressman Iggy Arroyo we love you”, “Your love and support is our inspiration,” “Thank you for all your help”, while a streamer from the Madeleine Academy said “You will forever be in our hearts”.

On the arrival of the casket at the church for a two-day wake, Fr. Greg Patiño blessed it in liturgical rites, after which residents of the fifth district of Negros Occidental that Arroyo had served for three terms formed a single line as they filed past his coffin to pay their last respects.

Former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo last night said he will endorse the candidacy of his sister Marilou Arroyo Lesaca should she decide to run for the fifth congressional seat of Negros Occidental, that has become vacant following the death of their brother Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr.

Grace Ibuna, the congressman’s partner, on the other hand, said she did not want to think about that when asked if she would run for the post.

Ibuna along with the congressman’s daughters Bianca Arroyo and Dina Arroyo Tantoco, and her children arrived with his remains on board a Philippine Airlines flight at the Bacolod Silay Airport at past 6 last night, while Mike and Marilou Arroyo came shortly after on a private plane.

The Bacolod City Police released yesterday the pictures of seven of the 12 suspects in the in the hold-up of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative where P3.6 million in cash set to be picked up by an armored vehicle for bank deposit was taken Friday.

City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said that, of the seven suspects, two were identified as Reynaldo Bacolod “alias Toto,” “Jay Mira” of Las Piñas City, and Joseph Calarmo, based on the police Rogues’ Gallery.

De la Paz said they are members of the Ozamis-Dipolog Robbery Group that has links with the Kuratong Baleleng Gang and the Parohinog Robbery Group.