Comelec opposes 3-day furlough for Gloria to attend Iggy's wake
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is opposing the request of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before a Pasay City Court to let her stay for three days at the wake her brother-in-law, the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo Jr.
"Our position is this should not be allowed. Bakit siya bibigyan ng three days? Hindi naman namin inaalis sa kanya na makadalaw, ‘wag lang three days," Comelec lawyer Maria Juana Valeza told GMA News Online in a phone interview Friday.
The camp of Mrs. Arroyo on Friday asked the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 to let her attend Iggy's wake from March 1 to 3 at the Arroyo ancestral house in La Vista, Quezon City, where she intends to stay during her furlough from hospital arrest.
The late representative is the younger brother of former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
The court on Thursday allowed the former President, who is now Pampanga’s second District representative, to be at Iggy's wake from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, February 25.
However, Mrs. Arroyo’s camp told the court that her brother-in-law's remains will probably arrive in the country next Tuesday, February 27, rendering the court's earlier decision irrelevant.
"… Arroyo is requesting that she be allowed a three-day furlough… na i-allow siya na while nakaburol ‘yung kanyang brother-in-law sa La Vista residence nito i-allow siya na umattend sa wake at mag-stay doon, which is hindi pwede on our rules," said Valeza.
"By Monday that motion of… Arroyo will be heard again by the judge... we will attend to oppose," she added.
Government prefers that Mrs. Arroyo be allowed to attend brother-in-law' wake once his remains are brought to the House of Representatives, according to a radio dzBB report citing Valeza.
"Kung dadalhin ang labi sa Congress, doon na lang dapat, mas maganda security doon," she said.
As of Friday noon, there is still no definite word on when Iggy's remains will arrive in the Philippines, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs
Iggy died in London last January 26.
Mrs. Arroyo is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City since Nov. 18 on charges of electoral sabotage.
On Thursday, she entered a plea of "not guilty" before the Pasay City court. — VS, GMA News
"Our position is this should not be allowed. Bakit siya bibigyan ng three days? Hindi naman namin inaalis sa kanya na makadalaw, ‘wag lang three days," Comelec lawyer Maria Juana Valeza told GMA News Online in a phone interview Friday.
The camp of Mrs. Arroyo on Friday asked the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 to let her attend Iggy's wake from March 1 to 3 at the Arroyo ancestral house in La Vista, Quezon City, where she intends to stay during her furlough from hospital arrest.
The late representative is the younger brother of former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
The court on Thursday allowed the former President, who is now Pampanga’s second District representative, to be at Iggy's wake from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, February 25.
However, Mrs. Arroyo’s camp told the court that her brother-in-law's remains will probably arrive in the country next Tuesday, February 27, rendering the court's earlier decision irrelevant.
"… Arroyo is requesting that she be allowed a three-day furlough… na i-allow siya na while nakaburol ‘yung kanyang brother-in-law sa La Vista residence nito i-allow siya na umattend sa wake at mag-stay doon, which is hindi pwede on our rules," said Valeza.
"By Monday that motion of… Arroyo will be heard again by the judge... we will attend to oppose," she added.
Government prefers that Mrs. Arroyo be allowed to attend brother-in-law' wake once his remains are brought to the House of Representatives, according to a radio dzBB report citing Valeza.
"Kung dadalhin ang labi sa Congress, doon na lang dapat, mas maganda security doon," she said.
As of Friday noon, there is still no definite word on when Iggy's remains will arrive in the Philippines, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs
Iggy died in London last January 26.
Mrs. Arroyo is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City since Nov. 18 on charges of electoral sabotage.
On Thursday, she entered a plea of "not guilty" before the Pasay City court. — VS, GMA News
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