Palace insists no need for medical bulletin on Marcos’ health

There is no need to issue a formal medical bulletin regarding President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was recently diagnosed with diverticulitis, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said the President’s health is improving and emphasized that medical bulletins are typically reserved for serious or life-threatening conditions.

“Sa ating pagkakaalam pag naglabas ng medical bulletin dapat serious illness (As far as we know, a medical bulletin should be issued only for a serious illness),” Castro told reporters. 

She added that it may be more reliable for the President to describe how he feels.

“Kung sinabi ng Pangulo na hindi ito life-threatening, bakit kakailanganin ngayon and medical bulletin samantalang kami ay nagp-provide sa inyo ng kalagayan ng kalusugan ng Pangulo? (If the President has said that it is not life-threatening, why would a medical bulletin be necessary now, when we are already providing you with updates on the President’s health?),” Castro pressed. 

“Mas reliable po siguro na ang Pangulo ang nagsasabi ng kaniyang nararamdaman…Katawan naman nya po yun (It is probably more reliable for the President himself to say how he feels… After all, it is his body),” she said.

Marcos had missed some public events after being placed under medical observation last week due to diverticulitis, an inflammation of bulging pouches in the large intestine. 

He was represented by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto at the “Pagpupugay 2025: Parangal Sa Mga Lingkod” event at Malacañang.

The President did attend the oath-taking ceremony of General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. as PNP chief, which Castro said, was an indication that his health was improving, despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise.

“Ang sabi nga ni ES Ralph Recto, pinapa-relax muna ang Pangulo. Pero ang sabi natin, um-attend sya ngayon, nagkakaroon sya ng private meetings, so umiigi ang kalusugan ng Pangulo (As ES Ralph Recto said, the President was advised to rest. But as we mentioned, he attended today and is holding private meetings, so the President’s health is improving),” she added.

Last week, the President released a video message assuring the public that he is fine and that his condition was not life-threatening.