Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa retracted his earlier statement that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was feeling “under the weather.”
“We should not be hastily concluding any diagnosis for anyone who wants to wear a face mask,” Herbosa said in a statement.
The DOH chief’s remarks came after President Marcos was seen wearing a face mask following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, sparking speculation about his health.
“From my perspective as a physician, the President performed all his duties today and is well and not under the weather as earlier surmised,” he added.
Earlier, Herbosa suggested that President Marcos might not have been feeling well due to the influx of well-wishers during Mr. Marcos’ birthday celebration on Friday, September 13.
“It was his birthday last week, and with so many people greeting him, I’m sure someone passed him a bad bug,” Herbosa said during a Palace briefing.
During his birthday, President Marcos led the distribution of Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROMs) to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Nueva Ecija.
He also approved covering the bills for qualified patients in DOH third-level hospitals that day.
President Marcos was later seen attending a private birthday concert in a lavish hotel in Pasay City, where English rock band Duran Duran performed. However, Malacañang said the party was organized by the President’s close friends and the government did not spend anything on the celebration.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Herbosa retracts earlier statement that Marcos felt ‘under the weather’.”
