Marcos not under the weather – Herbosa

MANILA, Philippines — Contradicting his previous remark that President Marcos was “under the weather,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said Marcos performed his duties and is feeling well.

“We should not be hastily concluding any diagnosis for anyone who wants to wear a face mask. From my perspective as a physician, the President performed all his duties today and is well and not ‘under the weather’ as earlier surmised,” Herbosa said yesterday.

The President was seen wearing a face mask during a meeting at Malacañang on the Philippine e-visa system and the government’s immunization program.

Marcos also attended a sectoral meeting and the courtesy call of a Japanese trading and investment conglomerate official.

Meanwhile, the President marked his 67th birthday on Sept. 13 by launching a new program for farmers and condoning the debts of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Nueva Ecija.

But Marcos’ birthday bash last Friday drew flak as critics claimed that the party and private concert featuring British pop rock band Duran Duran was funded by taxes.

Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez earlier said the party was “at no cost to the government.”

The PCO said Marcos’ friends threw him a party at a Pasay hotel and the President was surprised that Duran Duran performed.