National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 Adviser Ted Herbosa apologized for his "death by community pantry" tweet which drew flak online.

On Friday, April 23, Herbosa reacted to reports of a senior citizen who succumbed to a heart attack while in line at a community pantry organized by Angel Locsin in Quezon City.

In a Twitter post, Herbosa described the death of the senior citizen as "death by community pantry," adding "I told you so!"

Herbosa since apologized, saying his tweet "may have sounded like a criticism but was ill-judged."

"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," he wrote on Facebook late Friday.

While he admitted that his tweet could have been worded better, Herbosa said he "felt angry over a preventable death."

"I apologize to sincere organizers of community pantries who were hurt. I continue to reflect on the impact of my behavior," he added.

Herbosa said he already filed a leave of absence from the University of the Philippines (UP) while he reflects on his "actions and this misstep."

Call for resignation

Meanwhile, former Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary Judy Taguiwalo called for the resignation of Herbosa.

"Too many public statements that betray UP ideals: sexism, calling out activists and collective actions and this morning's arrogant I told you statement blaming community pantries for the death of a senior citizen who was in line to get much needed food," Taguiwalo wrote.

She underscored that leave of absence "is not enough," since Herbosa is "just a away" from the Office of the President of UP.

Meanwhile, Gene Nisperos of the UP College of Medicine said Herbosa "shamelessly displays" an utter contempt of life and "an appalling disdain of the poor."

"If this is the kind of adviser the IATF has, no wonder our pandemic response isn't just failing. It is persecuting the poor!"