Liza Marcos not detained by US officials, says Malacañang
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday, March 13, dismissed rumors that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was detained by US officials.
Several online posts claimed that the First Lady was held in the US in connection with the recent death of Rustan Commercial Corp. heir Paolo Tantoco.
Tantoco passed away at the age of 44.
“There is no truth to claims that the First Lady was held by any law enforcers while in Los Angeles or in any other place,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a message to reporters.
First Lady’s US visit
According to the Palace, the First Lady was in the US to attend an event hosted by risk services firm Applied Underwriters. The event, called "Meeting of the Minds," was attended by several notable figures, including Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Marcos also participated in the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) during her visit.
A Facebook post from the First Lady documented her three-day stay in the United States, where she was seen interacting with various personalities at the MIFF, including "The Voice" winner Sofronio Vasquez III and actor Piolo Pascual.
Rumors of Marcos' alleged detention began circulating online following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Some of Duterte’s supporters claimed that his arrest was meant to divert attention from Marcos’ supposed detention.
However, Duterte’s ICC case has been ongoing for years, with initial complaints filed in 2017 while he was still president.
Duterte now faces trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity related to his bloody drug war, which left at least 6,000 dead, according to official records. Human rights groups estimate the toll could be as high as 30,000.
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