(UPDATE) MALACAÑANG on Thursday again debunked a supposed police report circulated online linking first lady (FL) Liza Araneta-Marcos to the death of businessman Paolo Tantoco from cocaine overdose, saying the document had been altered.
In a briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro cited a report by the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles in California to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the document being shared on social media was forged and not in conformity with standard reports issued by the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD).
The Palace spokesman took issue with The Manila Times columnist Rigoberto Tiglao for posting a copy of what she said was a doctored police report.
“With reference to Mr. Tiglao’s post on the screenshot of a purported report surrounding the circumstances of the death of Mr. Paolo Tantoco in Los Angeles, the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles had verified with the Beverly Hills Police Department… and found that the police report posted by Mr. Tiglao was altered. The altered letter contained terms that were not in line with the Beverly Hills Police standard language and protocol,” Castro said, referring to a portion of the document posted by Tiglao on Facebook.
“BHPD would not include terms such as expected to be overdosed, suspected to be cocaine and summoned to BHPD,” Castro said.
The “report” posted by Tiglao included the name of the first lady among the several individuals allegedly summoned for questioning by the police following Tantoco’s death at the Beverly Hills Hotel last March 8.
It came days after several news outlets reported on the initial findings of the Los Angeles County medical examiner pointing to “cocaine effects” as the official cause of Tantoco’s “accidental” death.
“We have already mentioned the other day what are the alleged facts they added that were not actually stated in the said police report,” she added.
The Palace earlier this week tagged as “shameful” the acts of “obstructionists,” including “former spokespersons and journalists,” who circulated the report in their attempt to taint the name of the first lady.
Possible legal actions are also being studied against those spreading disinformation about Tantoco’s demise.
