GMA attends mass for dead grandson

MANILA, Philippines -  Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attended yesterday a mass that marked the end of her 13-month-old grandson’s wake.

The special mass was held at the residence of Evangeline “Luli” Arroyo-Bernas and her husband Luigi Bernas in North Forbes Park, Makati City at the last day of the wake of their son, Jorge “Jugo” Alonzo Bernas, sources said.

Jugo’s remains were cremated shortly after his death last Nov. 2 due to a congenital heart ailment at the Philippine Heart Center.

Arroyo obtained a six-day furlough from detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City to attend the wake from noon to 10 p.m. each day and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. yesterday.

Her husband, former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and their close friends and relatives also attended the mass.

 No journalist was allowed to cover the event upon the request of Luli, lawyers of the family said. Luli, Arroyo’s only daughter, is known to be protective of her family’s privacy.

“Thank you for the kind messages and for condoling with us. We ask for privacy for the family at this time,” Luli said in a statement last week. 

Arroyo left her daughter’s residence promptly at 3 p.m. escorted by police vans.