…may seek cancellation of Ibuna’s passport

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Aleli Arroyo, legal wife of the late Negros Occidental Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr., is exhausting all legal measures to stop Grace Ibuna from proceeding with final arrangements for Iggy's remains in London.

Aleli failed to bring Iggy's remains when she arrived in Manila Saturday night as Ibuna allegedly falsely misrepresented herself as next of kin and decided to have the remains cremated there.

In a statement, Aleli asserted she and Iggy's daughter, Bianca, agreed to bring Iggy's remains to the Philippines.

“We were made to understand by Bianca, the daughter of Congressman Ignacio Arroyo who has been instructing the funeral parlor, that she is deferring to Aleli, the valid wife. Aleli and Bianca both agreed on the funeral arrangements and repatriation of the remains to the Philippines."

Lawyer Lorna Kapunan said Ibuna supposedly filed a complaint before a British court against her client and the Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom.

In an interview with ANC, Kapunan said: “That reaction questions the jurisdiction of the UK court. If Ms. Ibuna does have, claims she does have a certain right, then we are saying that she should come clean…before a Philippine court…There are arrangements being made not only by the family, but by Congress. It is so difficult to understand how just one person can frustrate the intention of a whole family.”

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.