Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes saga continues
The city government may have closed the controversial funeral parlor in Alta Tierra Village, Jaro but the story as regards its operation never die down.
Lately, residents of said subdivision were disturbed after observing some activities inside the Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes Building.
It turned out that the Aglipayan Church or Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) held a wake for a deceased member.
IFI priest Fr. Jose Salazar said owners Greg and Fely Abecia offered them the place after it was closed down by the city government. He did not elaborate about the deal.
Salazar clarified they are not operating as a funeral parlor but merely as a place for the wake of their deceased members.
He stressed that they do not conduct embalming services inside the edifice.
He said the building is also used a their place of worship as they are planning to put up a regular parish in Alta Tierra soon.
Salazar further said they would also accommodate wakes for non-Aglipayan members but for a fee.
He said the payment will be used in maintaining their operation.
Alta Tierra Homeowners Association Inc. through its president Florencio Yap, contested the reopening of the funeral firm after it was padlocked in 2004 in relation to the Supreme Court final decision on G.R. No. 157118 (The Iloilo City Zoning of Adjustment Appeals, et.al. vs. Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes Inc. dated December 8, 2003 and with the issuance of Executive Order No. 08, Series of 2004 ordering the closure of the Gegato-Abecia Funeral Homes Inc.
Based on High Court's decision, Mayor Jerry Treñas issued the executive order for the closure of the funeral parlor. The order was served City Legal Office chief Atty Edgar Gil on March 9, 2004.
Residents near the edifice fear the funeral parlor operations have resurrected after seeing some personnel under the former Gegato-Abecia management working in it.
They are afraid the Aglipayan Church is merely used to cover up their operation.
Treñas late last week ordered the City Legal Office to investigate the reported operation of the padlocked funeral parlor.