Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles Confirms Viral Police Report Linking First Lady to Tantoco’s Death Was Fake and Altered

NEW YORK - The Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles has verified that the police blotter circulating online — which falsely links First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos to the death of Rustan’s executive Paolo Tantoco — was digitally altered, confirming it does not match the official report from the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD).

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Thursday that the consulate coordinated with the BHPD, which clarified that the viral version contained terms and statements inconsistent with its official protocols and language.

“The altered letter contained terms that were not in line with the Beverly Hills Police’s standard language and protocol,” Castro said.

“BHPD would not include terms such as ‘suspected to be drug overdose,’ ‘suspected to be cocaine,’ and ‘summoned to BHPD.’”

The clarification came after California-based and Filipino Reporter Xenia Tupas obtained the original BHPD police blotter through a request under the California Public Records Act. The report confirmed that officers were dispatched to Tantoco’s hotel room on March 8, after hotel staff reported he was unresponsive. Police arrived to find hotel security performing CPR, which officers continued before Tantoco was pronounced dead at 12:05 p.m.

The original report made no mention of the First Lady or any companions, nor did it cite any suspected drug use.

However, a fabricated version of the document, widely shared on Facebook, falsely claimed that Liza Marcos, Alexa Miro, and Dinah Arroyo Tantoco were “summoned for questioning” and that white powder “suspected to be cocaine” was found at the scene.

Tupas said police initially declined to release the document but later provided a redacted version, making clear that no further details would be disclosed while the case remains open. The LA County Coroner’s Office also confirmed the case is under investigation and the full autopsy report will be released only upon closure.

Castro said the Palace is considering legal options and that law enforcement agencies such as the PNP and NBI may launch an investigation into the incident.

“If it’s proven that the report was altered with malice, then those responsible can be held legally accountable,” she said.

She also urged Filipinos to exercise caution and discernment when reading online content, warning against the spread of false information.“The police report posted on Facebook is a big lie,” Castro stressed in Filipino.

“It is shameful that people in mourning are being dragged into political intrigue. This is clearly a smear campaign targeting the First Lady, the President, and the administration.

”Castro further emphasized that the First Lady was attending a formal event at the time of Tantoco’s death and was not part of his entourage.

As the controversy unfolds, the Palace reiterates its appeal to the public to rely on verified information from official sources and not to fall for malicious disinformation spread on social media.