Lucy Torres-Gomez and the Shoplifting Rumor: Setting the Record Straight

MANILA, Philippines — In the early 2000s, a disturbing rumor shook Philippine showbiz: respected actress and now-politician Lucy Torres-Gomez was allegedly caught shoplifting at a high-end department store in Makati. The story spread like wildfire—through text messages, gossip columns, and forwarded emails—casting a shadow on the reputation of one of the country’s most graceful public figures.

The rumor originated from a “blind item” published in The Manila Standard, vaguely referring to a well-known celebrity supposedly caught shoplifting at Rustan’s Makati. Despite the item not naming names, Lucy’s name somehow surfaced and stuck.

But was there any truth to the story? Absolutely not.

Lucy Torres-Gomez publicly denied the allegations, labeling them as baseless and malicious. In her own words, she was blindsided by the accusation and hurt by how easily people believed it.

Backing her up, Rustan’s Department Store also issued a formal statement, clarifying that no such incident ever occurred involving Lucy. In fact, the store referred to her as a valued customer and expressed regret over the damage caused by false rumors.

For years, the incident remained a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind items and unchecked gossip in the entertainment industry. In hindsight, it’s a classic example of how easily reputations can be tarnished without evidence—and how the truth often gets buried beneath sensationalism.