“We must raise the bar for public conversation and reject this toxic culture of clickbait lies”
IN ALL my years of public service, I’ve seen my fair share of political character assassination, but this recent online attack on First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos truly touched a nerve.
A fake police blotter surfaced online, linking her to the death of Paolo Tantoco. Filipino businessman who was administrator of the department store chain Rustan’s.
The cause of death was formally determined in a separate medical examiner’s report, which listed the primary cause as “cocaine effects” and a contributing factor as heart disease. That finding was released by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner and classified the death as accidental.
I have witnessed the first lady’s dedication to the country and her unwavering grace under pressure – which compels me to speak out.
That online post wasn’t just a lie. It was a calculated and cowardly move to discredit a woman who continues to serve the nation with quiet strength and dignity.
The so-called blotter, which circulated widely, has been debunked by the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, the Beverly Hills Police Department, and Malacañang.
It had none of the official hallmarks of a real US document; it was a complete fabrication, designed to mislead the public.
The original police report did not mention Tantoco’s cause of death, later identified as “cocaine effects” in a separate report by the Los Angeles medical examiner.
Press Undersecretary Claire Castro herself told the media in previous Malacanang briefings the first lady “has no reason to be worried, because she knows the truth, and those records will speak for themselves. The ones who should be concerned are those trying to destroy (the Marcoses), because this administration will not be brought down by these fake news attacks.”
I’ve come to know the First Lady as someone who holds herself to the highest standards, principled, intelligent, respectful, and never one to seek the spotlight.
She was in the United States at the time but she had nothing to do with Paolo Tantoco’s passing. Just lies weaponized to spark outrage.
This wasn’t some random rumor. It was a direct attack, meant to smear her reputation.
This isn’t just about politics anymore. This is about basic human decency. If we let this kind of deception slide, we are setting a dangerous precedent.
There are laws in place to deal with this kind of malicious behavior, and we must use them: Cyber Libel (RA 10175) to hold people accountable for online defamation;
Falsification of Public Documents (Article 171, Revised Penal Code) because creating fake reports to harm others is a serious offense; Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313) which protects women, including public figures, from gender based harassment.
International cooperation involving agencies like the Beverly Hills Police Dept. and the US Embassy can help track down who made and spread the fake blotter.
I also call on our own Dept.of Justice and Dept. of Interior and Local Government to dig deep and find out who’s behind this misinformation effort.
This isn’t only about laws. It’s about the kind of country we want to be.
Spreading fake news has somehow become normal, and that’s alarming. It wasn’t always like this. Once, truth mattered. Now, it feels like lies spread faster than facts.
Today it’s the first lady. Tomorrow, it could be your teacher, a journalist, or even a private citizen.
We must raise the bar for public conversation and reject this toxic culture of clickbait lies.
Those behind the smear job must be held accountable.
(The author, holder of a doctorate in philosophy, is Chairman Emeritus of People Alliance for Democracy and Reform, Alyansa ng Bayan para sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya , Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and FDNY Movement).
