MANILA, Philippines — President-turned-Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s request to visit the wake of her brother-inlaw, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, has earned the backing of Catholic prelates.

Bishop Jose Oliveros of the Diocese of Malolos said the Mrs. Arroyo should be allowed to visit the wake of the late congressman for “humanitarian and Christian reasons.”

Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos of the Diocese of Butuan expects charity and compassion on the part of authorities to let the Pampanga congresswoman go to the wake of her brother-in-law.

For his part, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said she should be allowed to go to the wake of the late congressman especially since she is not yet a sentenced prisoner.

Arguelles asked: “If your brother-in-law dies, will you not visit him?”

“I know many sentenced inmates are allowed to visit deceased close relatives. Of course they are not high profile “prisoners”. Is CGMA (Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) already a sentenced prisoner?” he added.

Earlier, Mrs. Arroyo asked the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112, which is trying her case of electoral sabotage in the 2007 national elections in Maguindanao, to allow her to go to the wake of Iggy Arroyo.

The former president has been under hospital arrest since last November 18.