MANILA — Malacañang officials on Thursday (13 Mar 2025) dismissed rumors that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was detained by law enforcement during her recent visit to Los Angeles, California.
“There is absolutely no truth to the claim that the First Lady was held by any law enforcement officer in Los Angeles or elsewhere,” said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a statement.
Castro further clarified that the First Lady arrived in Manila at approximately 5 a.m. on Monday. By 5:58 a.m., she had already left the airport on her way to her residence.
The statement followed several social media posts that falsely suggested the First Lady was being held in connection with the death of businessman Juan Paolo Tantoco. Tantoco, who passed away on March 9, 2025, in the United States, was reportedly involved in an as-yet undisclosed cause of death.
The First Lady’s most recent Facebook update shows that she was already back in the Philippines by March 11. On that day, she personally presented a donation check to the Girl Scouts of the Philippines at her office in Manila.
During her visit to California from March 5 to 8, First Lady Araneta-Marcos attended the Manila International Film Festival, which officially opened on March 4.
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