PHILIPPINES

First Lady Liza Marcos Skips US Trip Amid Rumors, Flies to Saudi Arabia for OFW Outreach

July 19, 2025
Apple Majait

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will not be accompanying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his upcoming trip to the United States, choosing instead to travel to Saudi Arabia on a working visit to meet with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Malacañang announced Friday.

Liza Araneta-Marcos FB Photo File
Liza Araneta-Marcos FB Photo File

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Malacañang clarified on Friday that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos is currently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she is leading a series of outreach activities for Filipino migrant workers — explaining her absence from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s forthcoming visit to Washington, D.C.

Her solo diplomatic mission comes in the wake of widespread rumors attempting to link her to the death of Paolo Tantoco, heir to the Rustan’s retail empire. Los Angeles authorities earlier reported that Tantoco died due to the effects of cocaine. Malacañang has not commented on the allegations, focusing instead on the First Lady’s official engagements abroad.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said Araneta-Marcos departed Manila on Thursday to attend the OFW and OWWA Serbisyo Caravan in Riyadh. The outreach program delivers a range of essential government services to OFWs and their families, including legal aid, financial support, and welfare counseling.

“The First Lady will also visit shelters for distressed Filipino women, workers and children,” Castro added, emphasizing the humanitarian nature of the trip. She noted that the visit had been originally scheduled for early July but was moved to mid-July due to logistical adjustments.

Araneta-Marcos is expected to return to the Philippines on Monday, July 21.

Earlier this week, Castro had confirmed the First Lady would not be part of the President’s fifth official trip to the US, but Friday’s briefing marked the first time the Palace publicly explained her absence.

The First Lady’s separate working trip reflects a growing role in diplomatic and social welfare efforts, even as speculation continues to swirl back home.

Commentary: Scrutiny and Substance in the First Lady’s Absence

The announcement that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will not be accompanying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his upcoming U.S. trip, due to a working visit to Saudi Arabia, comes at a time when optics matter as much as actions. On paper, her itinerary in Riyadh — including visits to distressed OFWs and the launch of a welfare caravan — signals a strong commitment to Filipino workers abroad. However, the timing and context of this trip have opened the door to speculation and public curiosity, especially in light of recent controversies.

This marks her first absence from a presidential foreign trip in 2025, but it follows a pattern — she also skipped the Washington visit in April 2024. While official explanations have been provided, the shadow of the Juan Paolo “Paowee” Tantoco incident in Los Angeles lingers. Rumors of her alleged connection to Tantoco, who died under unclear circumstances during a U.S. visit reportedly linked to a film festival, continue to raise eyebrows, even if Malacañang has categorically denied any official affiliation. First Lady not joining President in US trip – Palace.

In politics, perception is reality. While the First Lady’s Saudi agenda may be genuinely mission-driven, the Palace must recognize that failing to address lingering questions transparently only fuels further speculation. Silence or vague denials are no longer sufficient in an era of hyperconnected scrutiny. If the administration wants to project unity, stability, and credibility, it must tackle these issues head-on.

That said, it’s worth noting that her visit to Saudi Arabia also reinforces a diplomatic and social priority that should not be overlooked: the welfare of OFWs, a demographic that remains central to the Philippine economy and social fabric. The First Lady’s focus on shelters for distressed women and children is a crucial, often underreported effort that deserves genuine acknowledgment.

In the end, her absence is both symbol and signal. Whether it’s a calculated distancing from controversy or a commitment to another pressing national concern, it’s clear that public confidence hinges not only on where our leaders go — but also why, and what they leave unexplained behind.

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