By Thea Alberto-Masakayan | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom
Negros Occidental Representative Iggy Arroyo passed away while in London Thursday, legal counsels have confirmed.
Lawyer Romulo Macalintal told Yahoo! Southeast Asia that former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo already confirmed his brother's passing.
Iggy, who has been in London to seek treatment for his ailing liver, is also former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's brother-in-law. He was 60.
"Yes, it was confirmed by the First Gentleman. His relatives are already preparing to transport [Iggy] to Manila," Macalintal said in a phone interview.
Ferdinand Topacio said Iggy passed away 7 am Manila time due to cardiac arrest.
"They tried to resuscitate him but he fell into a coma," said Topacio in a separate phone interview.
Macalintal said interment details are still sketchy but there will be necrological services at the House of Representatives and at Negros Occidental. The burial will most likely be in Manila, he added.
"The Arroyo family is asking for the prayers of everybody," said Macalintal, adding that the family is also thankful for the concern for the lawmaker.
Topacio said the former First Gentleman is "bereaved" over Iggy's death.
Iggy was first elected as Congressman for the 5th District of Negors Occidental in 2004 and was re-elected in 2007 and 2010.
In his online profile, it was noted that Iggy "authored acts on increasing the salary grades of public school teachers, Seafarers Act of 2008, giving scholarship to the youth engaged in agriculture, instituting the children’s welfare funds for the protection and rehabilitation of abandoned, abused and sexually exploited children, the anti-child pornography act."