Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Friday, April 24, pushed back against criticisms questioning the health of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., asserting that the chief executive remains active and highly engaged in governance.

Speaking during the president's visit to Batangas City, Recto described Marcos as a “high-energy” leader who works from morning until late at night, dismissing claims that the president is physically weak or unfit for duty.

Recto said Marcos’ daily routine reflects a demanding schedule, noting that the president often initiates early-morning communications and continues reviewing reports and sending messages even late at night.

He added that inside Malacañang, Marcos frequently moves between meetings and handles multiple responsibilities simultaneously.

“Kung nasa Palasyo, hindi naman mapakali ang master of multitasking. Kaliwat-kanan ang mga pulong. He reads the fine print of reports and the impact of big projects writ large,” Recto said. “This is a high-energy presidency of a healthy leader. Walang wheelchair, walang tungkod at hindi uugod-ugod.”

The executive secretary emphasized that such work habits contradict allegations portraying the president as lacking stamina, calling such claims unfounded.

Marcos was in Batangas to lead several government activities aimed at supporting communities affected by the ongoing Middle East crisis. These included the distribution of rice under the Local Government Support Fund, engagement with Presidential Scholars under the Socio-Civic Projects Fund, and the turnover of financial assistance to Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) presidents.

Recto reiterated that the President’s visible workload and active participation in both field and palace duties demonstrate his capability to lead, underscoring what he described as strong and steady leadership amid public scrutiny.