Metro Manila, Philippines – The Supreme Court en banc has directed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Executive Secretary Ralph Recto to comment on a petition seeking to compel the chief executive to undergo medical examination.
In a session held Wednesday, April 22, the high court acted on the petition filed by former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and others.
The petition asks the court to issue an order directing Marcos to submit to physical and mental examinations, including a hair follicle drug test, and to disclose the results to the public.
Petitioners also sought the release of a medical report confirming the president’s fitness to discharge the powers and duties of his office.
The court said it has not yet given due course to the petition.
Instead, it ordered respondents to submit their comment within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice.
Malacanang has yet to issue a comment on the court order.
Last week, Marcos challenged critics spreading rumors about his health to join him in the gym, as he sought to dispel online claims that he is seriously ill.
The president also rejected what he described as false claims circulating online.
“Tiniyak ko na makita ninyo na hindi totoo yung mga sinasabi nila, na kasinungalingan yan… ngayon alam ninyo, puro sinungaling yung mga yan… huwag nyo nang paniwalaan,” he said.
[Translation: I made sure you could see that what they are saying is not true, that those are lies… now you know they are all liars… do not believe them.]
Marcos said he continues to undergo regular medical checkup and that his latest scan showed he has recovered from diverticulitis, an inflammation or infection of small pouches in the digestive tract.
The president said he has been back to his regular routine for nearly three months and remains fit to carry out his duties.
Malacañang has repeatedly denied speculation about Marcos’ health, including claims that he has been seriously ill for months.
The Presidential Communications Office also said it had detected a “sudden and coordinated surge” of disinformation targeting the president’s health, describing it as an effort to mislead the public.
