Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday, Jan. 22 that he has been diagnosed with diverticulitis, an inflammatory condition, and assured the public that it is not life threatening.
“I’m fine. I’m feeling very different from the way I was feeling before…what happened was I, apparently, I now have diverticulitis. It’s a common complaint amongst the apparently, people who are heavily stressed, and people I have to admit, growing old,” the 68-year-old president said in a video released by the Presidential Communications Office.
Earlier, Malacañang said the president was brought to the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City on Wednesday evening, Jan. 21, for observation.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos has returned to Malacañang and will attend meetings.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the president is required to disclose his health condition “in case of serious illness.”
Marcos said the public has nothing to worry about.
He also left a message to those who want him out of power, amid multiple impeachment complaints filed against him over alleged corruption.
“Huwag kayo masyado muna excited kasi [don’t be too excited because] it’s not a life threatening condition…the rumors of my death are highly exaggerated,” Marcos said.
