SAYING that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is recovering, Malacañang on Wednesday maintained there was no need to release a medical bulletin, as this is only necessary when there is a serious illness.
Speaking to reporters, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that Malacañang has been regularly updating the public on the president’s health condition.
“If the president has said that his condition is not life-threatening, why would a medical bulletin be necessary?” Castro said in a press briefing.
She urged the public not to believe “made-up stories” claiming that Marcos’ acute diverticulitis had “severely deteriorated due to drug use.”
The Palace official said that the president continued to carry out his official duties.
“If the source is unknown, then it is most likely fabricated. We should not easily believe information circulating on social media that is unverified and without credible sources,” Castro said.
“The president was advised to relax, but as we mentioned, he attended an activity today and continues to hold private meetings. His health is improving,” she added.
Last week, Marcos was placed under medical observation due to diverticulitis, or the inflammation of irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine.
While the president has described the disease as “not a life-threatening condition,” he has skipped several events outside Malacañang, including the opening of new kiosks in the Pasig River Esplanade and an education event in Ilocos Norte.
Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said that Marcos was recovering from diverticulitis and was advised to take a rest for the meantime.
“The president will continue to focus on critical duties, but the executive secretary and other Cabinet members who are his alter egos may represent him at some engagements,” he added.
The president was supposed to attend the Pagpupugay 2025: Parangal sa mga Lingkod Bayani ceremony in Malacañang on Wednesday morning, but he was instead represented by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.
Recto said that it was “only natural” for Marcos’ doctor to recommend that he rest for a week.
He said that there was nothing to worry about the president’s health condition.
Recto shared that he also had diverticulitis twice last year and had “down time for a week for each episode.”
“So now, I am fully recovered. And I think in the next few weeks, the president will be fully recovered,” he added.
The executive secretary also said that Marcos continued to hold private meetings and took advantage of his rest time to sign documents.
