MANILA, Philippines – Inihayag kahapon ng University of the Philippines System na ang executive vice president nito na si Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, ay nagbitiw sa tungkulin.
Ang pagbitiw ni Herbosa ay dumating ilang sandali matapos magdulot ng galit sa social media sa kanyang puna sa pagkamatay ng isang matandang lalaki na pumila sa Community Pantry na itinayo ng artista na si Angel Locsin noong Biyernes.
Sa kanyang tweet, sinabi ni Herbosa na ang pagkamatay ng lalaki ay “death by community pantry” na agad na nakuha mula sa online na komunidad ng UP at iba pang mga netizen.
Sa parehong araw, naglabas si Herbosa ng isang pampublikong paghingi ng tawad sa kanyang pahina sa Facebook: “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 support community pantries as acts of kindness. What I had intended to say was I object to violations of public health standards, which increase transmission of COVID-19,” dagdag ni Herbosa, na isa ring espesyal na tagapayo ng National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF).
Sa paglalahad pa, sinabi niya: “I suggested ways to do community pantries without risk to senior citizens. I felt angry over a preventable death and ended up issuing the tweet when I could have expressed it in a better way.”
“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,”dagdag niya.
Kahapon, sinabi ng UP sa pahayag nito na inatasan ni Herbosa ang kanyang pagbibitiw, na binanggit ang “mga personal na dahilan.”
“UP President Danilo L. Concepcion has accepted his resignation, expressing his regret from the fact that Herbosa had served the University with great dedication,” sinabi ng pahayag.
Si Herbosa ay nagsilbing EVP ng UP mula nang magsimula ang pagkapangulo ni Concepcion ng unibersidad ng estado noong 2017.
“In your service as Executive Vice President, you have shown how vital this position can be to the governance of the University,” sinabi ni Concepcion sa kanyang pagtugon sa sulat ng pagbibitiw ni Herbosa.
“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,’Basahin ang pahayag ng UP.
