Palace admits hands tied on Iggy repatriation mess
Malacañang on Saturday admitted the Philippine government’s hands are tied on the latest legal row that threatens to delay the repatriation of the remains of the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the help from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is limited to the facilitation of documents and clearances.
“Ang ating embahada tumutulong sa permit na kailangan para ma-repatriate ang labi ni Rep. Iggy. Ang DFA ay nakahanda magbigay ng tulong, may mga clearance na kailangan i-secure bago iuwi ang labi. (Pero) sa mga issue na legal involving the family, wala na," she said on government-run dzRB radio.
Earlier ob Saturday, Lorna Kapunan, the lawyer of the late lawmaker’s wife Aleli Arroyo, said Arroyo’s partner Grace Ibuna had taken legal action to prevent the release of Iggy's remains.
Kapunan said she was told Ibuna wanted to have the late congressman’s remains cremated in the UK.
She said Ibuna had represented herself as Arroyo’s next of kin.
“We understand from media reports there seems to be an internal matter within the family. This is something the DFA will not touch,” Valte said.
Rep. Arroyo, the brother of former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, died last month in the United Kingdom after a lingering illness. — LBG, GMA News
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the help from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is limited to the facilitation of documents and clearances.
“Ang ating embahada tumutulong sa permit na kailangan para ma-repatriate ang labi ni Rep. Iggy. Ang DFA ay nakahanda magbigay ng tulong, may mga clearance na kailangan i-secure bago iuwi ang labi. (Pero) sa mga issue na legal involving the family, wala na," she said on government-run dzRB radio.
Earlier ob Saturday, Lorna Kapunan, the lawyer of the late lawmaker’s wife Aleli Arroyo, said Arroyo’s partner Grace Ibuna had taken legal action to prevent the release of Iggy's remains.
Kapunan said she was told Ibuna wanted to have the late congressman’s remains cremated in the UK.
She said Ibuna had represented herself as Arroyo’s next of kin.
“We understand from media reports there seems to be an internal matter within the family. This is something the DFA will not touch,” Valte said.
Rep. Arroyo, the brother of former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, died last month in the United Kingdom after a lingering illness. — LBG, GMA News
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