FACT CHECK: No death sentence, drug charges against Liza Marcos

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The video surfaced following claims linking the First Lady to the death of Rustan executive Paolo Tantoco, who died in Los Angeles from ‘cocaine effects’

Claim: A Los Angeles court sentenced First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to death by hanging due to her alleged links to illegal drug operations.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A YouTube video posted on July 17 features a photo of the First Lady in its thumbnail, appearing distressed, accompanied by sensationalist text: “Deserved! Hatol kay Liza Smuggs bitay?! First Lady kinondina sa Los Angeles dahil sa pulvoron?!”

(Deserved! Verdict on Liza the smuggler is death by hanging?! First Lady condemned in Los Angeles over drugs?!) 

The video’s title refers to “polvoron” — a crumbly pastry — being used as a euphemism for illegal substances.

The video’s narration opens with the details of Marcos’ alleged conviction, further claiming that US officials had long been investigating her supposed links to international drug syndicates. The video has garnered over 4,000 views as of writing and was posted by a YouTube channel with 114,000 subscribers.

The facts: No court in Los Angeles or anywhere in the United States has charged, tried, or sentenced the First Lady for any crime related to illegal drugs. The video provides no evidence for its claim.

The false claim appears to stem from the March 9 death of Paolo “Paowee” Tantoco, an executive of Rustan Commercial Corporation and the husband of Palace Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco, assigned to the First Lady.

The businessman died in a Beverly Hills hotel while in the US. He had earlier been claimed to be part of Marcos’ entourage when she flew to the US for the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) held from March 4 to 7, 2025.

In July, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Paolo Tantoco’s death as accidental, caused by the effects of cocaine and heart disease. The official report does not mention Marcos. (READ: [Closer Look] Overkill and overreach in controversy linking Liza Marcos to Tantoco’s death)

Tampered report: Some social media users circulated what appeared to be a police report referencing the First Lady. However, Malacañang, citing the Beverly Hills Police Department, said the document was altered and contained inaccuracies not present in the original.

Since March, Malacañang has repeatedly rejected any connection between the First Lady and Tantoco’s death. Press Undersecretary Claire Castro said Tantoco was not traveling as part of the First Lady’s official group and did not stay at the same hotel during the MIFF. 

Related claims: Following Tantoco’s death, claims circulated online alleging that Marcos was detained in the US, and that the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte was a cover-up for this. These claims remain unsupported and have been dismissed by officials.  

Rappler has published related fact-checks about Tantoco’s death: 

• FACT CHECK: Duterte arrest not a cover-up for Tantoco’s death
• FACT CHECK: Contrary to claim, media reported on death of Rustan executive Paolo Tantoco
• FACT CHECK: Liza Marcos not detained in US, no exchange deal for Duterte release

 – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com 

Efren Cyril Bocar is a journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar who graduated in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. Cyril is also a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. 

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