President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. skipped another Malacañang engagement on Wednesday as he continues to recover from diverticulitis, following his doctors’ advice to rest and limit public activities.
The President was absent from the Gawad Lingkod Bayani ceremony and was represented instead by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, the Palace said.
Recto assured reporters that Marcos remains in good condition and is simply adhering to medical recommendations.
“He’s fine. It’s only natural for his doctor to recommend that he rest for a week,” Recto said, citing his own experience with diverticulitis.
He added that the President has been using the recovery period to attend to paperwork and hold internal meetings.
Marcos was hospitalized last week after being diagnosed with diverticulitis, which he later described as “not life-threatening.”
Despite assurances from Malacañang, he has missed several recent public engagements outside the Palace, including events at the Pasig River Esplanade and in Ilocos Norte.
In his absence, Marcos has been represented by Recto, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, as the Palace maintains that the President remains in good health while prioritizing his recovery.