Philippines denies health scare after Marcos appears to have bleeding gums in viral video

Speculation about the president’s health was fuelled by footage of Marcos speaking with what looked like blood in his mouth during a speech

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr speaks at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 9. Photo: RTVM

Published: 7:00pm, 11 Apr 2025

The Philippine presidential palace has downplayed concerns about President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s health after video footage appeared to show him with bleeding gums while speaking at a military event this week – a moment that quickly fuelled speculation online about a possible kidney condition.

The incident, which unfolded during a short address at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday, was caught in a five-minute video posted by the presidential palace and state broadcaster RTVM. From around the 1:38 mark, blood is clearly visible near the lower right side of the president’s mouth.

Marcos continued speaking without pause, and the palace made no mention of the bleeding until stills and clips suggesting he might be seriously ill began circulating on social media – particularly among users aligned with his biggest political rival, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Some users speculated that Marcos, 66, was showing symptoms of kidney disease – the same illness that afflicted his father and namesake, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Snr, who required multiple transplants in the 1980s.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Snr (right) inducts his son, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, as special assistant to the president on November 24, 1978. Photo: UPI

Bleeding gums can be a symptom of chronic kidney disease, as poor kidney function can affect blood clotting and lead to gum inflammation. However, it is more commonly caused by issues like gingivitis or poor oral hygiene.