NEWS

PBBM exhausted after US trip

Tiziana Celine Piatos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged on Friday that he got tired after his six-day trip to the United States, but claimed he was "fine" now.

In an interview on the sidelines of the opening of the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) at Taguig City's Arca South Estate, Marcos said there is no need to be concerned about his health.

He added that he simply needed rest after a tiring trip, after missing an event on Thursday due to feeling under the weather.

Marcos didn't attend the dinner reception for the 31st Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace after his extensive travels through San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu.

"I basically just ran out of steam yesterday," the President explained.

"I hadn't yet recovered from the trip. I suppose I just needed rest," he added.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, present at Malacañan, mentioned Marcos' condition during the Palace event, while Marcos' cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, stepped in to deliver the keynote speech on his behalf.

Although Marcos didn't make it to the Palace event, he managed to participate in situation briefings in Catarman, Northern Samar, addressing the aftermath of extensive floods triggered by the shear line and low-pressure area.

He also visited General Santos City after the 6.8 magnitude earthquake, inspecting damaged infrastructure in affected areas and engaging with local government leaders to assess their response efforts.