Apolinario Mabini and fake news

Philippine first lady, Liza Araneta Marcos, has recently been thrust into controversy, alleging that she was somehow involved in the death of Juan Paolo Tantoco, of the prominent and wealthy Tantoco family of the Rustan's Group of Companies.

- Todd Sales Lucero

Tantoco was found dead in a hotel in Los Angeles County in the United States on March 8, 2025, his cause of death was confirmed by the LA Coroner’s Office as cocaine overdose. Videos of the first lady partying with Tantoco and others in LA circulated online, causing many to ask if the first lady was present before, during, or after the overdose of Tantoco. Naturally, Malacañang has denied these allegations, calling these allegations as nothing but fake news. These days, however, the term “fake news” is used by both victims and peddlers of such, and it is difficult to tell if “fake news” is really fake, or simply made to divert people's attention from the truth.