The late Filipino businessman and Rustan's scion Paolo Tantoco.

Paolo Tantoco, the heir of the Rustan’s retail empire in the Philippines, died of a cocaine overdose, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed in an official autopsy report. The 44-year-old Filipino businessman was found dead at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on March 8, 2025. In the autopsy report released on July 9, the coroner ruled his death accidental, citing “cocaine effects” as the primary cause and “probable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease”—a condition involving plaque buildup in the arteries—as a contributing factor. According to Hollywood LA News, the Beverly Hills Police Department is handling the case, with no foul play suspected. Tantoco was in the United States as part of the entourage for Philippine First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who attended the Manila International Film Festival in Hollywood from March 4 to 7. His sudden death shocked the Philippine business and political community. His remains were later repatriated and buried in the Philippines. Tantoco is survived by his wife, Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco, and their three children: Alana, Bella, and Zach. ICA/Expat Media
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