PAOLO TANTOCO’S DEATH

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Imee Marcos on Monday urged Malacañang to provide clarity regarding the purported involvement of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in the passing of Rustan Commercial Corporation (RCC) executive Paolo “Paowee” Tantoco. Tantoco’s death in March in Los Angeles, California, was reportedly attributed to cocaine use.

In a public statement, Senator Marcos addressed online reports that connect the First Lady to the circumstances surrounding Tantoco’s death on March 8, 2025. She stated: “In recent days, reports have circulated online and in various public fora that the untimely death of Mr. Paolo Tantoco on 8 March 2025 in Los Angeles was caused by ‘cocaine effects.’ Some reports further suggest that Mr. Tantoco was ‘apparently’ part of the entourage of the First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos who was in Los Angeles at that time to promote the Manila International Film Festival.”

Senator Marcos further highlighted claims circulating online, stating: “More troubling are claims circulating online that the First Lady may have personal knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Mr. Tantoco’s death—with some alleging that she was present at the scene either shortly before, during, or immediately after the incident.”

Emphasizing the serious nature of these accusations and the clear public interest, Senator Marcos pressed her brother’s administration, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to release a comprehensive report on the matter. She directly urged: “Given the gravity of these allegations and the matter’s undeniable public interest, I urge Malacañang to issue a comprehensive report on the circumstances of Mr. Tantoco’s death, including any involvement—direct or indirect—of the First Lady or other Philippine government officials. I also call for the clarification of the First Lady’s whereabouts at the relevant time, as may be reflected in official records such as the Medical Examiner’s Report, to dispel further speculation.”

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed over the weekend that Tantoco, 44, died from cocaine use. His body was discovered on March 8, 2025, in his hotel room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. This was a day after he attended the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), which ran from March 4 to 7, as part of the First Lady’s entourage. The official report classified Tantoco’s death as accidental, listing “cocaine effects” as the primary cause, with “probable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease” as another significant contributing factor. A report from Hollywood LA News, a US-based news blog, also indicated that Tantoco “died from overdosing on coke,” with the medical examiner’s ruling published on July 9, presumably after toxicology results were finalized.

Tantoco, a member of the prominent family behind Rustan’s luxury retail empire, was married to Dina Arroyo-Tantoco, who holds the position of the President’s deputy social secretary. Senator Imee Marcos’s public comments on this sensitive issue have the potential to further intensify the long-standing tension between her and her younger brother, the President.