President Aquino, the country’s first bachelor leader, is still fit to work despite his regular therapy for his previous bullet wound, Malacañang said Sunday.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Chief Executive will resume his hectic work on Monday after taking a breather last weekend, allaying concerns about the health condition of the 50-year-old Aquino.

Mr. Arroyo, fresh from his historic inauguration as the nation's 15th president, reportedly underwent therapy at the Philippine Rehabilitation Institute Foundation in Quezon City last Saturday.

Lacierda, in a media briefing aired over state-run DZRB, explained that Mr. Aquino undergoes regular therapy since he was shot during a coup attempt against the administration of his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, in 1989.

Aquino reportedly survived five bullet wounds although three of his bodyguards were killed in the attack. A bullet remains lodged in Aquino’s neck, while scars are seen on his left arm.

“He needs regular therapy for the bullet embedded in his shoulder because sometimes, it still hurts,” Lacierda said. “But he is okay. I talked to him at 1 am Sunday and he is still working. We talked about matters about the State.”

Just like last Saturday, Mr. Aquino had no public engagements and decided to rest Sunday, according to Lacierda.

But on Monday, the President, who is shuttling between his family residence on Times Street, Quezon City and Malacanang, will resume his duties starting with the flag-raising rites at the Kalayaan grounds in the Palace.

Afterwards, the President, who has skipped using a presidential limousine and sirens in his road trips, will attend the 63rd Philippine Air Force anniversary at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Mr. Aquino preferred use his personal Toyota Land Cruiser when traveling outside the Palace. The sports utility vehicle now bears the plate number 1, a special number for the President.

Lacierda said the President will likely wake up early to beat the morning traffic and meet his public engagements on time.