FACT-CHECK: First lady Liza Marcos not the OFW ambassador to Europe

admin 11:19 PM
CLAIM: First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was appointed by her husband, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., as the OFW ambassador to Europe.

 

RATING: FALSE

 

A Facebook post uploaded by the account “Rosalina Estonilo” falsely claimed that first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos is the overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) ambassador to Europe, without citing official sources.

Flagged content: Uploaded on Nov. 20, the post falsely claimed that Araneta-Marcos was appointed by her husband, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

  • The post reads: “JUST IN! Itinalaga ngayong araw ni Pangulong Marcos ang kanyang asawa na si First Lady Liza Marcos bilang Ambassador ng mga OFW sa Europe (sic)” (“JUST IN! President Marcos has appointed his wife, first lady Liza Marcos, as the ambassador for OFWs in Europe today.”)

Our debunk: On Nov. 20, during Marcos Jr.’s speech at the 2025 Bagong Bayani Awards, he jokingly referred to the first lady as the “ambassador for migrant workers” and suggested she would be part of a “cabinet shake-up.” 

  • The remark acknowledged her recent travels to Europe to attend the activities of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). 
  • No specific law establishes the position of first lady as a public office with mandated duties or a salary. The role is shaped by tradition, the interests of the individual holding it, and public expectations. 
  • Article VII, Section 13 of the Constitution prohibits the president from appointing their spouse to certain high government positions during their tenure, affirming that the spouse does not hold an office of inherent government authority.
  • The primary traditional duty of the first lady is to serve as host of Malacañang Palace, managing social and ceremonial events and attending to local and foreign dignitaries and their spouses. 

Charitable activities: Additionally, the first lady participates in various initiatives, supports vulnerable populations, and leads organizations dedicated to development.

  • In July 2025, after recent typhoons, the first lady joined the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in distributing relief assistance to flood victims in Manila.
  • In December 2024, she helped launch the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s “Walang Gutom Kitchen,” which provides free meals to people experiencing involuntary hunger and those living in the streets.
  • On Nov. 3, 2022, the first lady was installed as Chief Girl Scout of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

Rewind: From Oct. 15 to 16, the first lady assisted with activities for Filipino migrant workers in Milan, Italy, along with the DMW and the OWWA.

  • On Oct. 12, she joined government officials during the “Bagong Bayani ng Mundo — OFW Serbisyo Caravan” in Rome, in line with President Marcos Jr.’s directive to bring government services closer to Filipinos abroad.
  • On Oct. 10, she and Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. attended the “Alagang OWWA: Wellness and Membership Caravan” at Novotel London West in Hammersmith, London, an event organized to give overseas Filipino workers easier access to essential government services.
  • On July 20, the first lady visited Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to assist distressed OFWs, mothers, and children, and oversaw repatriation efforts.

Why we’re fact-checking this: As of writing, the Facebook post has drawn 842 reactions, 177 comments, and 14 shares. Jamaica Cabilis


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