UP exec says he quit from post because he was trolled following ‘tasteless’ tweet about community pantry
Dr. Ted Herbosa, who resigned as executive vice president of the University of the Philippines, said he quit his post because he was attacked by a “troll army.”
On Sunday, April 25, UP said in a statement that Herbosa quit his post because of “personal reasons.”
His resignation came just a day after he received backlash due to his tweet “Death by 'community pantry'. I told you so!” to describe the death of a 67-year-old man who died after collapsing while waiting in line at the community pantry set up by actress Angel Locsin in Quezon City on Friday.
Herbosa is also an advisor for the national task force against COVID-19.
"I resigned because a troll army attacked me and it created a maelstrom of hate,” Herbosa said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Monday, April 26.
Herbosa said he will remain as an advisor for the COVID-19 task force.
He agreed that his tweet is condescending and tasteless, and said that he had already apologized for it. “Unfortunately, there are what we call misinformation and disinformation that happens out there. People have taken everything out of context. Took only the 8 words. Posted it and shared it and demean by personality,” Herbosa said.
He added that his tweets prior were a “call for help”
"I felt bad as a disaster expert to look at a crowd called to a particular place without preparation leading to the death of an innocent person," he said.