President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is showing steady improvement after being diagnosed with diverticulitis, Malacañang said Wednesday, dismissing claims online about severe deterioration in his health as unverified and false.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Mr. Marcos skipped public events on doctors’ advice to rest for a week but continued to perform key duties, including administering the oath of office to Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. as the 32nd chief of the Philippine National Police and holding private meetings inside the Palace yesterday.
“The President’s health is improving and stabilizing,” Castro said, adding that Mr. Marcos has not complained of renewed pain based on her personal interactions with him.
The Palace official also rejected allegations the President’s condition had worsened due to drug use and involved complications such as a cyst or perforation.
She said the messages came from unknown sources and should not be believed.
“If the source is unknown, that story is probably just fabricated. We should not easily believe information circulating on social media that is unverified and without credible sources,” Castro said, urging the public to avoid sharing unverified information from social media.
Responding to calls for a formal medical bulletin, Castro said such advisories are typically issued only in cases of serious illness.
“If the President has said that his condition is not life-threatening, why would a medical bulletin be necessary?” she said.
In a separate statement, Press Secretary Dave Gomez said the President will continue to focus on critical duties, while Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and other Cabinet members may represent him at some engagements during his recovery.
Over the weekend, Malacañang called for restraint, sincerity and compassion following remarks by Senator Imee Marcos on the recent health condition of her brother, saying the Chief Executive’s illness should not be trivialized or politicized.
“Let us not make the President’s health a joke… What a person who has gone through illness needs is genuine care and compassion. Do not be insincere in the public’s eyes,” she said.
Castro’s statement came after Senator Marcos claimed her brother fell ill because no one in Malacañang was taking care of him, alleging that people around the President were driven by their own agenda.
