PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told his detractors to not be “too excited” after he was admitted overnight at St. Luke’s for medical observation due to diverticulitis.
“I’m fine. I’m feeling very different from the way I was feeling before. The problem has been fixed. What happened was, apparently, I now have diverticulitis. It’s a common complaint among... people who are heavily stressed and people who are, I have to admit, growing old,” Marcos said in a video message on Thursday.
“Don’t get too excited because it’s not a life-threatening condition,” he jokingly added in Filipino.
Malacañang earlier in the day disclosed that the chief executive was placed under medical observation overnight after experiencing “discomfort.” He was advised to rest and be further monitored but that his condition remains stable.
The president assured the public that there is nothing to worry about and that he would try to “take it easy” even though it is nearly impossible for him to do.
“Well, yeah. Of course, the doctor always tells me that, but how do I do that? There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.
In a separate press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said fatigue and working until the early hours of the morning may have triggered the “discomfort” Marcos felt in his abdominal area.
He was brought to the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City to be checked.
The president skipped the Ten Outstanding Young Men awarding ceremony earlier in the day and was represented by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. He, however, later went back to work and proceeded with previously scheduled private meetings.
Should he be given the green light by his doctors, Marcos can go to his public appearances out of town this weekend.
