Iggy Arroyo Dead - Mike January 26, 2012
MANILA, Philippines (6th UPDATE) - Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo Jr. died Thursday after life-support systems were removed from his body, said his brother, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo.
"Support systems were pulled out already thirty minutes ago. My brother passed away already. I'm so sad," he said.
The Negros lawmaker was earlier declared "clinically dead" and was only relying on life support systems after he suffered a cardiac arrest Wednesday night.
"At that point, an ambulance was called for him in London. He was revived at the hospital but he went into a coma. This morning, his heart stopped beating," Mike Arroyo said in an earlier statement.
ABS-CBN London correspondent Gene Alcantara confirmed that Iggy Arroyo was suddenly rushed to the intensive care unit of the London Clinic Wednesday.
He said on TV Patrol that journalists were barred from going inside the hospital.
Alcantara, however, said sources inside the hospital had revealed that Arroyo was in serious condition.
He said the sources have also confirmed that Arroyo has died and an ambulance, which may have been carrying his body, later left the hospital grounds.
No one was with Iggy Arroyo in London, except for a certain "Grace," he added.
Liver ailment
The younger Arroyo went to London last year to seek treatment for a liver ailment. He was listed as one of the lawmakers with the most number of absences in the House of Representatives for 2011.
He earlier told ABS-CBN News last December that he had to stay longer in London because of his ongoing treatment.
He also urged President Benigno Aquino III to show compassion to his sister-in-law, former President Gloria Arroyo.
'Jose Pidal'
The younger Arroyo figured in the news in 2003 after he claimed ownership of the multi-million-peso "Jose Pidal" account, allegedly owned by his brother.
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/26/12/iggy-arroyo-dead-mike
