'Deliberate lies': Allegations vs Marcos, First Lady aim to harm their integrity
Published Jan 7, 2026 03:59 pm
Malacañang condemned fresh allegations against President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, saying rumors are being spread to harm the First Couple's character and integrity.
"Rumours concerning President Marcos Jr. and FL (First Lady) Liza are being spread to harm their character and integrity," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Wednesday, Jan. 7, when sought to comment on the recent claims against the First Couple.
"In the absence of evidence, anyone may spread falsehoods to promote a politician or to troll for a fee," Castro said.
Deliberate lies
The allegations against President Marcos and the First Lady were merely deliberate lies with no supporting evidence or forensic findings, according to civic leader and Palace ally Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia.
"What is being circulated online are false and malicious claims directed at the First Couple—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos," Goitia said in a statement.
According to Goitia, the claims, which have been circulating on social media, involved drugs, sexual conduct, and the supposed existence of sensitive images, including an edited or fabricated material falsely attributed to the First Lady.
"None of this is supported by evidence. There are no records. No forensic findings. No sworn statements. No cases filed before any authority. What exists is an interview-style presentation, followed by repetition across various blogs and social media platforms," Goitia said.
“That distinction matters. Criticism is anchored on facts and actions. What we are seeing here are accusations floated without proof and amplified for effect. That is not legitimate criticism. It is defamation," Goitia added.
The civic leader pointed out that the manner the allegations were aired stripped away verification, challenge, and accountability.
"Presented this way, untested claims were allowed to pass as conversation and circulate as content. Placing an accusation inside an interview format does not make it credible. It only makes it easier to spread," Goitia said.
"Nothing in the video is verified. Nothing is authenticated. There is no attempt to submit these claims to institutions capable of testing them. The delivery is casual, almost conversational, as if repetition itself could substitute for proof. It cannot," he added.
"This is not a legitimate exercise in public discourse. An interview format does not excuse unproven accusations, and it does not remove accountability," Goitia further said.
The Palace ally also said that the "content was produced for circulation, not for truth."
Gender attack
He further stressed that the attack made against the First Lady is "a gendered form of attack," which "relies on shame and insinuation because those wounds are harder to undo, even when the claims are false."
Goitia argued that no image has been authenticated and expert has verified anything, adding that the insinuation alone is expected to cause harm.
Public officials are open to scrutiny, he also said. But inventing crimes and immoral conduct is not protected speech.
“Free expression is not a license to destroy reputations,” Goitia said. “The law draws a line, and this crossed it.”
Castro, meanwhile, commended those who are mindful of the consequences of fake news, stressing that its proliferation also affects the country's tourism and economy.
"We commend those who are worried about the consequences of disinformation," Castro said.
"Immediate action is necessary to address thes falsehoods, which will affect not only victims of fake news, but also our tourism and economy," she added.
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