Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo Jr. (Neg, Occ., 5th district) yesterday accused his estranged wife of spreading lies against him and his family, while a judge issued a gag order preventing both parties from discussing a pending joint custody case before a Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

The solon also told the DAILY STAR that the developments in his private life will not stop him from running for re-election as congressman of the fifth district of Negros Occidental. "My private life has nothing to do with my commitment to public service," he said.

Yesterday Judge Rosalina Luna Pison of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 107 issued a gag order on the joint custody case that the solon filed against his wife, Alicia "Aleli" Arroyo, former chairperson of the Philippine Stock Exchange, since it involves their 9-year-old child and is pending before a Family Court.

The judge cited the need to protect their child.

"Aleli has made a circus out of this otherwise sad affair for obvious reasons," the solon said.

Mrs. Arroyo, who sought a protection order against Rep. Arroyo, saying her life was in danger, was granted a Temporary Protection Order on Thursday.

The congressman said his wife has been doing the rounds spreading accusations against him and his family.

"I am shocked that she has stooped that low. Worse, I am deeply saddened that she has used my daughter as a pawn for no other reason than to gain leverage against me," he said.

Arroyo said he will not engage his estranged wife in a public debate on their domestic troubles.

"I will maintain my dignity, and that of my family to protect whatever little privacy my daughter has left," he said.

"I will protect my daughter even at the cost of my own life. I would never, ever, do anything that would even remotely endanger her well-being," he said.

"It's bad enough that she cannot see me because of the devious act of her mother," Rep. Arroyo said.

For the record, Rep. Arroyo said, he categorically denies the lies his wife has been spreading against him and his family.

"I will not comment beyond that because these issues are now in court," he said.

He reminded his estranged wife that under the law (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act) she invoked, all records in the case should be treated with confidentiality.

Rep. Arroyo said he will continue to seek the court's fair resolution of "all our domestic issues, specifically custody over my daughter. Please be fair to my little daughter. She has suffered enough."*CPG

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