Marcos skips Gawad Lingkod Bayani event; Recto says he's fine

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will not attend the event in Malacañang Wednesday morning but he is fine and catching up with paper works after experiencing diverticulitis, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said.

Marcos was supposed to grace the Pagpupugay 2025: Parangal Sa Mga Lingkod, which will take place at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall, Malacañang Palace, but Recto will represent him instead. 

''He's fine. It's only natural for his Dr. to recommend that he rest for a week,'' Recto told Palace reporters. 

''PBBM is catching up with paper work,'' he added. 

In a separate interview, Recto shared that he also experienced having diverticulitis twice last year.

''I had downtime of a week... of each episode of that time,'' Recto said, adding that the President was also advised by his physicians to take some rest.

Still, Marcos will have some public engagements, according to Recto.

The Presidential Communications Office said the President has been recovering from diverticulitis, noting that his medical team has been monitoring his steady progress. 

''The President will continue to focus on critical duties but the Executive Secretary and other Cabinet members who are his alter egos may represent him at some engagements,'' Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said.

Last week, Marcos was placed under medical observation due to diverticulitis, or the inflammation of irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine.

The President issued a video message assuring the public he is fine and that what he experienced was not a life-threatening condition.

He had no public engagements since then. 

Malacañang had denied reports that the President would undergo surgery for diverticulitis.

It also said that an alleged medical document on Marcos Jr.’s health that is circulating online is fake. 

'Heart of the government'

Marcos, meanwhile, lauded civil servants who made significant contributions in their respective fields as well as those who have shown outstanding public service.

In his speech read by Recto, Marcos said the civil servants were the heart of the government. 

“Ipinagdiriwang natin sa araw na ito, ang puso ng pamahalaan. Ang mga kawaning tahimik na naglilingkod para sa sambayanang Pilipino at sa bansa,” Marcos said as he emphasized the vital role of public servants in nation-building.

(We recognize this year the heart of our government. These are the employees who continue to serve the Filipino people and the nation.) 
 
“Para sa lahat ng tumanggap ng parangal ngayon, kayo ang patunay na ang diwa ng tapat na paglilingkod ay buhay sa ating pamahalaan. Sa gitna ng dilim at ingay, kayo ang hibla ng liwanag na nagbibigay pag-asa sa ating sambayanan,” he added. 

(To those who accepted awards today, you are the reason that there are still honest public servants in the government. In the midst of darkness and noise, you are the light that gives hope for the public.) 

Marcos said the awardees have shown that there are still good public officials. 

The Gawad ng Lingkod Bayani, led by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), recognizes government employees with exceptional economic and social contributions, notable achievements, and steadfast commitment to the highest ethical standards.

These awards are conferred under three categories, namely Gawad Lingkod Bayan ng Pangulo, Gawad Dangal ng Bayan, and Gawad Pagasa.

A total of 24 individuals and six teams were awarded for this year. —AOL/VAL, GMA Integrated News