It was a big lie.

This was how Malacañang responded to claims linking First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to the death of businessman Paolo Tantoco, stressing that "obstructionists" are using the latter's death to ruin the First Lady, President Marcos, and the administration.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro specifically branded the police report circulating online as a "lie" and "fake document."

"Nakakalungkot dahil yung mga pribadong tao na nagluluksa ay nadadamay sa pamumulitika (It's disheartening because private individuals who are in mourning are being dragged into politics)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, July 15.

"Ginagamit ng mga ibang obstructionist para masira ang First Lady, ang Pangulo, at ang administrasyo na ito. Nakakahiya ang kanilang mga ginagawa (Some obstructionists are using this to discredit the First Lady, the President, and this administration. What they are doing is shameful)," Castro added.

"Ang sinasabing police report na nai-post sa Facebook ay isang malaking kasinungalingan (The police report posted on Facebook was a big lie)," she stressed.

The Palace official also said that certain parts of the fake police report was just added in, and was not originally included in the document.

Castro clarified that the late Tantoco was not included in the First Lady's entourage, and the First Lady was attending an event for the Filipino community in Los Angeles on March 8, the day Tantoco died.

"Tandaan po natin ang Unang Ginang po noong siya ay nasa Los Angeles ay meron po security service na na-provide ng US, meron din po siyang  kasamang PSG. Hindi rin po siya nag-stay sa nasabing hotel ni Mr. Tantoco (Let us remember that when the First Lady was in Los Angeles, she had security services provided by the US, and she was also accompanied by the Presidential Security Group. She did not stay at the hotel where Mr. Tantoco was)," Castro said.

"At meron po siyang mga activities, March 8 na mayroong konsiyerto para sa Pilipino, hapon hanggang gabi (She also had scheduled activities, including a concert for the Filipino community on March 8, which lasted from the afternoon until the evening)," Castro added.

"Papaanong masasabi ng mga obstructionist na 'to na mga fake news peddlers na 'to ang patungkol sa mga nakita nilang tao doon sa vicinity (So how can these obstructionists and fake news peddlers make claims based on the people they say they saw in the area)," she went on.

When asked how the First Lady handled the claims, Castro said she is doing well and is not worried over the allegations "because she knows the truth."

"Okay lang siya, alam niya po kasi ang katotohanan. Sa totoo lamang po, e, ayaw niya  sana 'tong lumaki pa dahil ang administrasyong ito ay para ipakita ano bang ginagawa ng Pangulo, anong trabaho ng Pangulo at paano ba kami magtrabaho para sa taumbayan (She’s okay, because she knows the truth. Honestly, she did not want this issue to blow up any further because this administration is focused on showing what the President is doing, what his responsibilities are, and how we work for the people)," Castro said.

"Wala pong kinababahala ang Unang Ginang dahil alam po niya ang katotohanan at makikita po mismo ang mga records na 'yan (The First Lady has no reason to worry because she knows the truth, and the records will speak for themselves)," she added.

"Ang dapat na mabahala dito ay yung mga naninira sa kanila dahil hindi nila magigiba sa gamit na ito na mga fake news na 'to ang administrasyong ito. (Those who should be concerned are the ones destroying them because they will not be able to bring down this administration using fake news)," she further said.

While filing a case against the people spreading fake news about the First Lady is "timely," Castro said it will have to be studied first.

"Pag-aaralan po iyan. Mukhang napapanahon pero pag-aaralan (That will be studied. It seems timely, but it will be carefully studied),"the Palace official said.