‘Just needed rest’: Marcos says now feeling better after skipping APPF dinner

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 24) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is now in better condition and simply “ran out of steam,” as he explained his failure to attend the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) dinner in Malacañang on Thursday.

“Hindi pa ako nakapag-recover sa biyahe [I haven’t recovered yet from my trips as of yesterday]. I suppose I just needed rest,” he told reporters on Friday after gracing the inauguration of the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital in Taguig City.

“I’m fine now. Thank you for (your) concern,” Marcos said.

The president was supposed to host a dinner reception for the 31st annual meeting of the APPF. Malacañang said it was attended by Philippine lawmakers, parliament members from 19 countries, as well as ambassadors and chargés d'affaires.

Earlier that day, Marcos led a situation briefing in Tacloban after the flooding in Samar, and visited General Santos City to assess the damage caused by the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit parts of Soccsksargen.

On Monday, Marcos returned to the country after a six-day official trip to the United States.