Malacañang insists Marcos is 'healthy' amid 'bleeding gums' speculations
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is healthy, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro maintained amid speculations that the country's chief executive's gums were bleeding during his Araw ng Kagitingan speech.
Some social media users noticed what appeared to be blood on Marcos' teeth as he spoke at Camp Aguinaldo on April 9.
"What happened? Gums bleeding?" one user who reposted the video on Facebook captioned.
"I am very curious why BBM didn't even seem to notice that his gums were bleeding so profusely while he was speaking? How can one not taste blood in one's mouth? It's one of the strongest tastes there is, as it's metallic," another user who shared screenshots wrote.
"Ang pangulo po ay healthy, kaka-meeting lang namin kanina," Castro told The Philippine STAR in an interview. "Kung ano mang issue 'yan, ipinapasinungalinan na po namin ngayon pa lang."
She added that they had an early meeting at 9 a.m. on April 10. "Kung hindi healthy ang pangulo, hindi niya po kakayaning gumising ng ganun kaaga at makipag-usap sa mga ibang official ng gobyerno."
Asked about whether Marcos, 67, had any chronic illnesses, Castro said she has not asked him about it, but she notices that he is well.
"Physically, harap-harapan, maganda naman 'yung kalusugan niya. Kapag nag-meeting kami, energetic siya,' she added.
After his speech in Quezon City on Araw ng Kagitingan, Marcos went on to speak at other events in Bataan and Mandaluyong, based on uploads from RTVMalacañang.
Since assuming office in 2022, Marcos caught COVID-19 in December 2023 after contracting it in 2020.
He also laughed off rumors that he was hospitalized in September 2024 as Tropical Storm Enteng hit the Philippines.
"Do I look sick? he asked members of the media when he was interviewed at Camp Crame. "Kalokohan lang 'yan. That is nonsense."
Marcos' predecessor Rodrigo Duterte revealed that he has myasthenia gravis, Buerger's disease, and Barret's esophagus during his time in office. The former president is currently in The Hague, where he faces charges over his alleged crimes against humanity during his controversial war on drugs.
