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Palace Decries Politicking In Mourning' Amid Allegations Against First Lady
Screengrab from RTVM
Malacañang on Tuesday firmly denied allegations linking First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to the death of businessman Paolo Tantoco, calling the accusations a baseless attempt to politicize a time of mourning.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro described the allegations as “a lie,” emphasizing that the First Lady had no involvement in Tantoco’s passing.
“Those who are grieving are being dragged into politics,” Castro said. “Some obstructionist elements are using this to discredit the First Lady, the President, and this administration.”
The issue flared after Senator Imee Marcos urged the Palace to release a comprehensive report on the alleged connection between the First Lady and the late businessman. Social media speculation and unverified reports circulated that Tantoco had been part of the First Lady’s entourage during her visit to Los Angeles, California.
To counter the rumors, Castro presented a photograph showing that the First Lady was at a concert on March 8—the same day Tantoco reportedly passed away.
“These are coordinated attempts to mislead the public. There is no truth to these claims,” Castro said.
Malacañang urged the public to respect the dignity of those mourning a loss and not to weaponize grief for political gain.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro described the allegations as “a lie,” emphasizing that the First Lady had no involvement in Tantoco’s passing.
“Those who are grieving are being dragged into politics,” Castro said. “Some obstructionist elements are using this to discredit the First Lady, the President, and this administration.”
The issue flared after Senator Imee Marcos urged the Palace to release a comprehensive report on the alleged connection between the First Lady and the late businessman. Social media speculation and unverified reports circulated that Tantoco had been part of the First Lady’s entourage during her visit to Los Angeles, California.
To counter the rumors, Castro presented a photograph showing that the First Lady was at a concert on March 8—the same day Tantoco reportedly passed away.
“These are coordinated attempts to mislead the public. There is no truth to these claims,” Castro said.
Malacañang urged the public to respect the dignity of those mourning a loss and not to weaponize grief for political gain.
Jul 15, 2025
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