The Tamesis
April 14, 2026
Manila – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday challenged those spreading rumors about his health to work out with him to see who is stronger.
He raised the challenge at a news conference and dismissed suggestions that his health was deteriorating.
“I challenge anyone [is] They said I was sick and they came to exercise with me. We’ll see who’s stronger. You come to the gym with me. “My weight was incredible,” Marcos said.
To end speculation about his health, Marcos performed several jumping jacks inside and outside the New Executive Building (NEB) briefing room. He also ran a few meters from NEB to Malacañang Palace.
“I want to say to our fellow citizens, now, I make sure you see that what they are saying is not true – it is all lies. So from now on, those who tell you that I am sick or that I am incapacitated – remember this. Now you know, they are all liars,” he said in Filipino.
The president further emphasized, “So everything they say is a lie. So don’t believe any of these people anymore. Now you know who the liars are and who’s telling the truth. I think, again, it’s very clear, very obvious, that my health is very, very good.”
Marcos said he recently had routine blood tests done and the results were normal. He added that his last visit to the hospital was about three months ago for a CT scan to check whether his previously diagnosed diverticulitis had completely healed.
“I haven’t been to the hospital in three months, and even then, I just had a CAT scan because a CAT scan tells my doctor if the diverticulitis has completely healed. And it has, and I’m done,” he said.
“My diet is back to normal. My workouts are back to normal. I still work out 3-4 times a week. I’m paying more attention to my diet than before,” Marcos continued.
The president also said he only takes maintenance medication for gout and high blood pressure.
“Other medications I take – no, nothing. When I have allergies, I take antihistamines. Pero wala naman ngayon,” he said.
“Other than that, that’s it. That’s it. I don’t really believe in supplements. If you eat well, exercise regularly, sleep regularly, you’re good to go,” he added.
At a separate news conference earlier, palace press officer Claire Castro dismissed suggestions by Sen. Imee Marcos that the president had been ill for months, saying it was false information spread by his long-estranged sister.
“She said they don’t see each other anymore, right? So what does she know? Nothing. She’s talking about fake news,” Castro said in Filipino.
“Let us not amplify the power of fake news peddlers. Our society does not need them. They are a scourge,” Castro said in Filipino.
Senator Marcos posted a video message on her social media saying she knew Marcos had been sick since November, although she admitted she had not seen his brother for a long time.
She also joined some critics of the government in calling on Malacañang to reveal the truth about President Marcos’ health.
