First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos flew to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday for a working visit, where she is expected to meet with overseas Filipino workers, according to Malacañang on Friday.
Presidential Communications Office Usec. Claire Castro said the First Lady’s travel schedule, which was from July 17 to July 20, is the reason she will not be accompanying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his upcoming trip to the United States.
“She will be back on July 21st,” Castro said.
The visit, originally scheduled for early July, includes the launch of an OFW and OWWA Serbisyo Caravan, a one-stop government outreach program providing legal aid, financial support and welfare counseling for OFWs and their families.
“The trip highlights the administration’s steadfast commitment to the welfare of our OFWs,” Castro said.
While in Saudi Arabia, the First Lady will also visit shelters for distressed Filipino women, workers, and children.
DICT Undersecretary Dave Almirol earlier announced that the First Lady is also spearheading the launch of a permanent one-stop service hub for OFWs in the Kingdom.
In a related development, Castro rejected Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s claim that the Palace is using the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue to divert public attention from controversies involving the First Lady.
“The possible ICC arrest is not an old issue,” Castro said in a briefing.
“Every now and then, we hear that a warrant of arrest may be issued. It’s not something recycled to distract the public,” she added.
Castro also responded to Dela Rosa’s comment accusing Palace officials of raising old or recycled topics for political cover.
The senator had criticized Malacañang for allegedly bringing up the ICC case to shift focus away from a purported fake police report involving the First Lady.
“I don’t recall us raising old issues unless we’re responding to questions,” Castro said.
“In fact, who really brings up old matters? There was even a Senate hearing about a 2012 PDEA operation,” she added.
Castro stressed that the issue over the altered police report posted by columnist Rigoberto Tiglao originated outside Malacañang, and not from the administration.
“We are merely responding to falsehoods,” Castro said.
“This isn’t a diversionary tactic. Why would we use a fake document to distract people, when we can clearly show the report being circulated is altered?”
She pointed out that the Beverly Hills Police Department confirmed the posted document was fake, and that its contents first surfaced publicly through the Vice President.
Castro also called on Dela Rosa to be more discerning before commenting on sensitive issues.
“He already got burned by a fake AI-generated video before,” she said.
“As a senator, he should be more critical. Malacañang will never use a falsified document to manipulate public discourse,” she added.
