How to say someone is coming behalf someone's absence

[english_learn]

If I want to say John attending the meeting today behalf of David since David is absence/sick. what is the professional way of saying it?

Can I say " John is attending this meeting in absence of David"

 

[MikeNewYork]

John is attending this meeting because David is absent.

 

[emsr2d2]

1. John is attending the meeting on David's behalf.
2. John is attending the meeting on behalf of David.
3. John is attending the meeting in place of David.

If it's important to explain why David isn't there, you can add ", who is absent due to sickness" after "David" in sentences 2 and 3. In sentence 1, you could add "because David is absent due to sickness".