Daily Star logoTop Stories
Bacolod City, Philippines Saturday, March 10, 2012
Front Page
Negros Oriental
Star Business
Opinion
Sports
Police Beat
Star Life
People & Events
Eguide
Events
Schedules
Obituaries
Congratulations
Classified Ads
Flag given to Aleli at funeral;
Grace says, I had Iggy’s love

BY CARLA GOMEZ

The flag draped on the coffin of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th District) was given to his estranged wife Aleli Arroyo as he was finally laid to rest at his family’s mausoleum at the Manila North Cemetery amid a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps at about 1:40 p.m. yesterday.

“The flag for me doesn’t matter, what is important is I know I had his love,” his long-time partner, Grace Ibuna, who was also at the funeral told ABS-CBN.

Ibuna was with the congressman when he died at the London Clinic on January 26 after a long battle with cirrhosis of the liver. He was 61.

Aleli, who was described as grieving quietly, after receiving the flag turned it over to Arroyo’s daughters, through Dina Tantoco.

Tantoco and Bianca Arroyo are his daughters from his first wife, Marilyn Jacinto, while Alelu is his daughter with second wife, Aleli.

His brother, former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, thanked all those who prayed and condoled with them in their hour of grief.

“We loved my brother very much,” he said.

Marilou Arroyo Lesaca told the DAILY STAR it has been very difficult for them to lose their youngest sibling. It was very emotional and we are all so tired, she said.

“We will try to move on but it will not be easy,” she said, adding that they thank all those who condoled with them and had cared for their brother.

Aleli Arroyo, who stood in front of the casket, flanked by the Philippine National Police honor guard to receive the flag placed on her husband’s coffin, thanked all those who prayed for their family and the congressman.

Ibuna wept as she hugged and kissed the congressman in his open coffin before it was finally sealed and buried, those present said.

“AlI I have left of him will be beautiful memories of love. It is hard to bury your soulmate and best friend, we always had each others back,” she told ABS-CBN.

Also at the funeral were Iggy’s nephews, Representatives Diosdado and Juan Miguel Arroyo.

Earlier in the morning a funeral mass was held at the Arroyo ancestral home at La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City, which Bacolod businessman Ricardo Tan described as “solemn and sad.”

Also present from Negros was Himamaylan Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon, he said.

At the funeral mass Alelu and Aleli were seen seated near Marilou, Mike and former president Gloria Arroyo on one side, while Dina and Bianca were seated near Ibuna on the other side.

The former president did not join the burial rites at the North Cemetery as the Pasay City court allowed her to attend only the Mass, she had to return to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center shortly after noon.

As the congressman’s casket was entered into his tomb, family members applauded and butterflies were released.

The House of Representatives is set to decide next week whether to hold special elections for a new congressman of the fifth district or appoint a caretaker until the regular polls in May next year.

Commission on Elections chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Thursday told reporters in Manila he prefers that no special elections be conducted.

“It’s additional (expense) and time-consuming, and … the tenure (of the successor) would only be a year. So it would be really a waste,” Brillantes added.

But it would be up to the House to decide, he added.*CPG

back to top

Front Page | Opinion | Negros Oriental | Business | Sports
Star Life | People & Events| Archives | Advertise
Top Stories
ButtonFlag given to Aleli at funeral; Grace says, I had Iggy’s love
ButtonPolice nab ex-soldier, P2M rob-slay suspect
ButtonCOA not delaying Capitol-Ayala deal
ButtonKidnapping original plan of P3.6M heist gang: NBI
ButtonSlain soldier was getting married
ButtonBrgy captain freed on bail
ButtonCop injured in mishap
Button5th clean-up today
ButtonFetus found in drainage