00:00Philippine President Marcus Jr. shows the Malacanang press corps
00:03that rumors of his alleged serious illness are greatly exaggerated.
00:08He performed a bit of calisthenics for reporters
00:10and also took them for a brief run outside the Malacanang compound.
00:15Katrina Domingo returns with this report.
00:22From excise tax to exercise tasks,
00:25President Ferdinand Marcus Jr. pivoted away from oil tax discussions
00:29as he did some jumping jacks before the media
00:33to discredit allegations that he is on the brink of death.
00:37I challenge anyone who are saying that I am sick,
00:41that they come and exercise with me.
00:45We will see who is stronger.
00:46Come to the gym with me.
00:47Tingnan natin kung sino mas malakas magbuat ng weight.
00:51I'm happy to say that I'm healthy.
00:54You want me to do more jumping jacks?
00:56This was the first time that the president stepped foot
00:59in the Malacanang's press working area,
01:02over 100 meters away from his office in the palace complex.
01:06Marcus Jr. says this should be enough proof
01:09that he is alive and well,
01:11despite persistent questions about his fitness to hold office.
01:16While Marcus Jr. admitted to taking maintenance medicine
01:19for gout and hypertension,
01:20the president says he has been regularly exercising
01:23and has been feeling well
01:25after being diagnosed with diverticulitis in early 2026.
01:30The president even invited reporters to join him
01:33in sprinting back to his office.
01:53When asked why he broke his silence
01:55after keeping quiet for so long about the issue,
01:59Marcus Jr. says,
02:00I don't want people to think that really that there's a problem
02:03because sa dami ng problema natin na hinaharap
02:07because of the war in the Middle East,
02:10sa dami ng hinaharap natin problema,
02:13that would be an additional problem of concern for our people.
02:18So I thought the easiest way is to show
02:22that I'm still very active basically.
02:25Earlier, Malacanang criticized Sen. Aimee Marcos
02:28for claiming to have knowledge
02:29of her younger brother's supposed illness
02:32as early as 2025,
02:34despite admitting she has not seen
02:37nor spoken to her brother in a long time.
02:40Huwag niyo na intindihin yung mga fake news ngayon.
02:42Intindihin po natin
02:43kung ano pong nire-report ng mainstream media
02:46at kung ano pong nakikita niyo mismo sa Pangulo
02:49kapag kayo po ay sumasama sa event ng Pangulo.
02:52Huwag na po natin palawakin ang mga fake news peddlers.
02:55Hindi po natin sila kailangan dito sa ating lipunan.
02:58Salot sila.
02:59Palace officials said they are reviewing legal options
03:02to hold those responsible for organized disinformation campaigns
03:05targeting the President's health.
03:07The Presidential Communications Office
03:09and the Departments of Justice and Information
03:12and Communications Technology
03:14have signed a memorandum of agreement
03:16to combat false information and deep fakes
03:19with stronger monitoring, data sharing, and law enforcement.
03:23Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News.
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