Marcos: 'I am fine now, just ran out of steam'

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. on Friday said he "ran out of steam" following his US visit last week but added that "he is fine now."

The President made the comment after he skipped the dinner reception during the opening of the 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Malacañang on Thursday night.

“Basically, just ran out of steam. Hindi pa ako nakapag recover sa byahe (I haven't recovered from the long trip),” Marcos told reporters at the sidelines of the inauguration of Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) in Taguig City, the first hospital in the Philippines dedicated to cancer care.

The reception dinner with Asian parliamentarians was held three days after the President came back from attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in San Francisco, California in the United States and a visit in Hawaii. 

Marcos was also in Tacloban and General Santos on Thursday following the flooding in Northern Samar and the earthquake that hit Davao Occidental. 

“I suppose I just needed rest. I am fine now. Thank you for your concern,” he added. 

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday said among the issues expected to be raised in APPF is the territorial dispute in the South China Sea and the trade cooperation among the member-states. 

Expected to attend the international forum are 18 countries, namely Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russian Federation, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Close to 300 participants from the said countries are expected to participate in the forum, including heads of parliaments of Thailand and Malaysia. —VAL, GMA Integrated News