Grace Ibuna stays on the sidelines during Iggy’s necrological service

(Updated 5:25 p.m.) Grace Ibuna, long-time partner of the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, chose to stay on the sidelines during the necrological service for the lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Monday.   Ibuna sat at the VIP gallery of the House session hall during the service, while the rest of Iggy’s family, including his wife Aleli, stayed at the plenary near the late congressman’s flag-draped casket.   Ibuna quietly stood up and momentarily left the session hall when Aleli was delivering her eulogy.   In her speech, Aleli described her husband, who died of a lingering illness in London last January, as a “gentle yet persistent” man.   “Not only was he a good public servant, he was also the love of my life. He was indeed a good man of the House,” she said during the eulogy.   Iggy is the younger brother of former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo. His remains were brought to Manila last week after Aleli and Grace, who were previously engaged in a legal battle over the custody of the body, reached an agreement over the funeral arrangements. ‘Unimaginable’ grief   Aleli, who was calm and composed during her speech, also thanked Iggy’s colleagues who showed compassion for her family after her husband’s death.   “Salamat po sa inyong tulong para mapagaan ang aming matinding dalamhati sa pagkamatay ng aking asawa, a grief that is unimaginable,” she said.   After Aleli’s eulogy, Ibuna came back to the session hall to listen to the eulogies given by Iggy’s daughters, Bianca and Dina. After the eulogies, Aleli and her three daughters with Iggy were called to the House rostrum to accept tokens in honor of the late congressman from House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.   When the necrological service ended, Ibuna immediately left the session hall and refused to grant interviews with the media. ‘Ill-bred’ Despite these, lawyer Lorna Kapunan, counsel for Aleli, still took offense on some of Ibuna’s actions during the necrological service. She particularly criticized Ibuna for supposedly calling the attention of several congressmen while the necrological rites were ongoing. “All the congressmen would go to her [Ibuna]. As a matter of fact, when they have lined up to pay their last respects, she was holding court in the gallery while Aleli was here,” the lawyer said. “Please show a little breeding. Some people are just ill-bred,” she added.   Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, for her part, advised “the women in Iggy’s life” to “let go” of the issues between them for the late congressman’s eternal repose.   “To all the women that Iggy loved, you are all lucky because you made him happy at one point of his life,” she said during her own eulogy for her late colleague.   Iggy’s remains are to be flown to his home province, Negros Occidental, before his burial in Manila on March 9. — KBK, GMA News