Jamaine Punzalan

First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos attends the launch of 2GO’s newest vessel MV Masigla as the guestof honor at Pier 4, Manila North Port in Manila on April 26, 2024.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175256389506120240426-2go-mv-masigla-launch-JC-29.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos attends the launch of 2GO’s newest vessel MV Masigla as the guest of honor at Pier 4, Manila North Port in Manila on April 26, 2024.<em> Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang is contemplating filing legal charges against personalities spreading a “fake” US police report linking First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos to the death of Rustan’s executive Paolo Tantoco in Los Angeles, a Palace official said Tuesday. </p><p>A report by the LA County coroner revealed that Tantoco, 44, died from cocaine effects in his hotel room on March 8, 2025.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/3/11/tantoco-family-mourns-passing-away-of-scion-1100">Tantoco family mourns passing away of scion </a></div><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the circulating Beverly Hills Police Department report on the death of Tantoco had been tampered to make it appear that the First Lady, Palace Deputy Social Secretary Dina Tantoco, and actress Alexa Miro, identified as “companions of the victim,” were supposedly summoned by the police for questioning over the incident.</p><p>“Nakakalungkot dahil yung mga pribadong tao na nagluluksa ay nadadamay sa pamumulitika. Ginagamit ng mga obstructionists para masira ang First Lady, ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon. Nakakahiya ang kanilang mga ginagawa,” Castro said.</p><p>“Ang sinasabing police report na nai-post sa Facebook ay isang malaking kasinungalingan,” the Palace official said. </p><p>“Kahit kayo mismo ay maaaring mag-imbestiga sa nasabing lugar sa Beverly Hills Police Department para malaman ninyo na yung nilagay sa Facebook na may guhit na color pink, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, ang parteng yon ay dinagdag lamang. Nag-start ang mga salitang and I quote, ‘and the cause of the initially suspected drug overdose’ up to the word Miro, yan po ay dinagdag lamang,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/13/palace-no-truth-first-lady-liza-marcos-was-held-in-us-or-anywhere-else-1152">Palace: No truth First Lady Liza Marcos was &#x27;held&#x27; in US or anywhere else </a></div><p>Castro clarified that Tantoco was not part of the official entourage of the First Lady and that Araneta-Marcos was attending a formal event at the time of his death.</p><p>“Tandaan, ang unang ginang po, noong sya ay nasa LA ay meron po siyang security service na pinrovide ng US, meron din syang PSG. Hindi rin sya nag-stay sa nasabing hotel ni Mr. Tantoco. Iba po ang kanyang hotel. At meron syang mga activities March 8,” she said.</p><p>“March 8 makikita nyo po sa screen na merong konsyerto para sa Pilipino. Nakikita nyo sa larawan din, Secretary Cristina Frasco. March 8 yan ginanap, hapon hanggang gabi. Papaanong masasabi na ang mga obstructionists na ito, mga fake news peddlers na ito, ang patungkol sa nakita nilang tao doon sa vicinity.”</p><p>The President’s elder sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, had urged the Palace to clarify the First Lady’s supposed ties to Tantoco’s death. </p><p>“Huwag po kasi tayong masyadong maniwala sa drama, sa gimik, sa gawa-gawang kwento. Siguro din tayo po bilang miyembro ng media, kaya din po natin alamin kung ano ang katotohanan dito. So sinasabi ko lang, yang police report na yan, it’s a fake document,” Castro said in response.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Palace said the First Lady did not appear bothered by the controversy.</p><p>“Pero wala po ikinababahala ang Unang Ginang dahil alam po niya ang katotohanan at makikita mismo ang mga records na yan. So ang dapat mabahala dito, yung mga naninira sa kanila dahil hindi nila magigiba sa gamit na fake news na ito ang administration na ito,” Castro said. </p><div><strong>OTHER STORIES:</strong></div><div><strong></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/03/10/22/liza-marcos-shares-rare-glimpse-of-personal-life">‘I like my anonymity’: Liza Marcos shares glimpse of personal, family life </a><br/><a href="http://‘I like my anonymity’: Liza Marcos shares glimpse of personal, family life">&#x27;Not Marcos&#x27;: Imee says government now controlled by &#x27;Araneta, Romualdez&#x27;</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/10/marcos-aquinos-thanked-first-lady-for-help-in-travel-arrangements-1052">Marcos: Aquinos thanked First Lady for ‘help in travel arrangements’</a> <strong></strong></div>

<p>Malacañang is contemplating filing legal charges against personalities spreading a “fake” US police report linking First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos to the death of Rustan’s executive Paolo Tantoco in Los Angeles.</p>

Malacañang is contemplating filing legal charges against personalities spreading a “fake” US police report linking First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos to the death of Rustan’s executive Paolo Tantoco in Los Angeles.

Palace denies Liza Marcos’ alleged ties to Paolo Tantoco’s death

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Palace denies Liza Marcos’ alleged ties to Paolo Tantoco’s death

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 15, 2025 04:27 PM PHT

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Liza Marcos

Paolo Tantoco

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Los Angeles

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