By Ronnie Estrada - Columnist
The Marcos family drama just got juicier, and it’s not a teleserye—it’s a real-life scandal that reeks of privilege and evasion. Senator Imee Marcos, never one to shy away from stirring the pot, has thrown a Molotov cocktail at Malacañang, demanding a “comprehensive report” on the March 8, 2025, death of Rustan’s heir Paolo Tantoco in Los Angeles. Why? Because her sister-in-law, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, was reportedly leading the taxpayer-funded entourage where Tantoco met his end, snuffed out by “cocaine effects,” per the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Buckle up, Philippines—this isn’t just a tragedy; it’s a masterclass in elite impunity, and Liza’s got some explaining to do.
Let’s cut through the Palace’s smoke and mirrors. Tantoco, a 44-year-old scion of the Rustan’s retail empire, wasn’t just some random VIP. He was a close ally of the Marcoses, with his wife, Dina Arroyo-Tantoco, serving as Liza’s deputy social secretary. He was part of the First Lady’s glitzy Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) posse, a government-sponsored jaunt to Hollywood meant to flaunt Filipino culture. Instead, it became a stage for disaster, with Tantoco found unresponsive in his Beverly Hilton room, his life extinguished by a drug overdose. Whispers on X and beyond—oh, you know they’re loud—suggest help was delayed to avoid a scandal. If that’s true, it’s not just negligence; it’s a betrayal of a man’s life to protect Liza’s polished image. And the First Lady? She’s been quieter than a church mouse, leaving Malacañang to sputter “fake news” denials like a broken record.
Enter Imee Marcos, the senator with a knack for exposing her family’s dirty laundry. She’s not buying the Palace’s dodge, demanding official records, including the medical examiner’s report, and clarity on where Liza was when Tantoco’s life slipped away. Good for her. The Filipino people, who bankrolled this LA escapade, deserve more than vague dismissals. What was Liza doing while her entourage partied into tragedy? Why the deafening silence from a First Lady who’s quick to flaunt her influence but slow to face scrutiny? And if help was delayed to keep the Marcos brand sparkling, who made that call? These aren’t pesky rumors—they’re questions that cut to the heart of accountability, and Liza’s ducking them like a pro.
The Marcos apologists will cry foul, whining that Liza shouldn’t be chained to Tantoco’s “personal choices.” Spare me. When you lead a government-funded trip, you don’t get to shrug off a death on your watch, especially when it’s tangled in whispers of a cover-up. This isn’t about blaming Liza for Tantoco’s cocaine use—it’s about her failure to lead, to ensure her inner circle didn’t spiral into chaos while taxpayers footed the bill. The public isn’t stupid; they see through the Palace’s pathetic “nothing to see here” routine. X posts are buzzing with outrage, and even Imee, a Marcos herself, smells something rotten. Why else would she demand a report, unless she knows the truth is uglier than Malacañang’s press releases?
Let’s talk privilege while we’re at it. Tantoco had it all—wealth, connections, a legacy. Yet he chose a path that ended in a hotel room, leaving behind a wife and three kids. It’s tragic, sure, but it’s also infuriating. Why squander a fortune on drugs when you could’ve built something lasting? His death is a grim reminder that money doesn’t buy sense, but it’s Liza’s role in this mess that burns. She wasn’t just a bystander; she was the ringleader of this elite circus. If her entourage was a playground for excess, she set the stage. And now, with Imee turning up the heat, Liza’s silence looks less like grief and more like guilt.
Malacañang’s “fake news” defense is a tired cop-out, and the public’s done swallowing it. Imee’s call for transparency isn’t just a family feud—it’s a demand for justice, for Tantoco’s family and every Filipino who funded this debacle. Liza Marcos needs to step out from behind her Palace handlers, face the music, and deliver answers. Where was she? What did she know? And why does it feel like she’s hiding more than she’s revealing? Until we get that report, the First Lady’s LA adventure will remain a stain on her legacy—one that no amount of gala glamour or loyalist spin can wash away.(TAMBULI NG BAYAN-Ronnie Estrada) #BagongPilipinas #LizaAranetaMarcos #ImeeMarcos #paolotantoco #MIFF #BongbongMarcos