MANILA, Philippines — Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, a special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19, has tendered his resignation as Executive Vice President of the University of the Philippines (UP) System, effectively immediately, due to “personal reasons,” UP announced on Sunday, April 25.
UP President Danilo L. Concepcion has accepted his resignation, expressing his regret from the fact that Herbosa had served the University with great dedication. “In your service as Executive Vice President, you have shown how vital this position can be to the governance of the University,” President Concepcion writes in his letter accepting Herbosa’s resignation.
“In your service as Executive Vice President, you have shown how vital this position can be to the governance of the University,” Concepcion wrote in his letter accepting Herbosa’s resignation.
President Concepcion, however, noted that “it is imperative that there be consistency and harmony in our relationship as administrators, as well as in our public pronouncements, given that we both represent the larger University community, its spirit, and its interests.”
Dr. Herbosa served as Executive Vice President of UP since the start of President Concepcion’s administration in 2017.
Herbosa’s resignation came a day after he drew flak online following his “death by community pantry” tweet.
The Twitter post was Herbosa’s reaction to reports of a senior citizen who died while waiting in line at a community pantry organized by actress Angel Locsin in Holy Spirit, Quezon City.
His controversial tweet angered many netizens, prompting him to issue a public apology on Facebook on Friday, April 23, saying that he should have phrased his comment better. At the time, he announced that he had filed a leave of absence to reflect on the “misstep.”
“I sincerely apologize for my tweet earlier today, tagging as ‘death by community pantry’ news of a senior citizen’s death at a community pantry of a celebrity. It may have sounded like a criticism but was ill-judged, when many are facing hardships & being helped by these kind hearted souls.”
“I apologize to sincere organizers of community pantries who were hurt. I continue to reflect on the impact of my behavior. I assure you this has nothing to do with the institution that I serve, the University of the Philippines, I have filed a leave of absence while I reflect on my actions & this misstep.”
SOURCE: UP.edu.ph