A Quezon City court judge yesterday granted the estranged wife of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th district) a 30-day temporary protection order, barring him from coming within 100 meters of her, their 9-year-old daughter, and their maids.

Lorna Kapunan, lawyer of Alicia "Aleli" Arroyo, former chairperson of the Philippine Stock Exchange, told the DAILY STAR the TPO issued by Judge Rosalina Luna Pison of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 107 also prohibits Rep. Arroyo from coming close to the house where his wife is living and the school where his daughter studies.

The TPO also prevents the solon and his agents from tailing, harassing and communicating with his wife and daughter, Kapunan said. Mrs. Arroyo yesterday issued a statement that her life was in danger from her husband and his brother, first gentleman Mike Arroyo.

The solon denied that yesterday and reiterated that his ex-wife must be afraid of her own shadow because she is paranoid.

Mrs. Arroyo said the solon abandoned their La Vista home in Quezon City in 2006 and is now having an affair with Grace Ibuna, an accusation he denied.

Reports from Manila said Mrs. Arroyo would serve as a good witness in a reinvestigation of the Jose Pidal account the solon and his brother, Mike, have been linked to.

But Kapunan yesterday said the case of Mrs. Arroyo is not a political case, it is to ensure her custody over her child.

Mrs. Arroyo sought a TPO after the solon, filed a case for joint custody of their 9-year-old daughter in January, Kapunan said.

The solon said all he wants is visitation rights to his daughter.

In the same order yesterday, the judge also directed a social worker to interview the solon, Mrs. Arroyo and their daughter to help determine which parent should have custody of the child, Kapunan said.

A hearing is set March 29,

The judge also issued a hold-departure order on the 9-year-old to prevent her from being taken out of the country by her father's camp, Kapunan said.

Kapunan said Mrs. Arroyo, who has been in hiding, was very happy with the issuance of the TPO and will surface soon.

Mrs. Arroyo is also asking for a share of her conjugal property with the solon, Kapunan said.

This can be based on the solon's statements of his assets and liabilities in the House, the lawyer added.*CPG

back to top