Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa apologized for this controversial tweet against protesting healthcare workers at the height of the pandemic and assured them that they are welcome to his office for a peaceful discussion of their concerns. Photo courtesy of Ted Herbosa
"I apologize if I hurt people because of the things I say or tweet. But I think now I have to be careful, suddenly that came to me that I have to control my persona and create a different one," he said in an interview with Karen Davila on Thursday, June 8. Earlier that day, Herbosa also tweeted a blanket apology for the things he have said before and asked for the support of the public. The new DOH chief clarified that the tweet was sarcasm and was only meant for healthcare workers who were protesting on the streets instead of fulfilling their duty. Photo courtesy of Ted Herbosa
"That's sarcasm; what happens is I was praising the nurses and doctors who were in the Covid wards wearing their PPEs, not the nurses and doctors who should be in the hospital but were somewhere else in the street shouting at the top of their voices. I need service, I need action," he said. Moreover, Herbosa said that he understands the issues of protesters and that it is their constitutional right to express their thoughts, but before doing so, he emphasized the importance of sitting down and discussing the issues first at his office peacefully before resorting to such activities. Photo courtesy of Ted Herbosa "I am your health secretary; I will listen to you," Herbosa said. Now that he is in the public eye, the newly appointed secretary added that he will try to be discerning of his actions and not hurt people's feelings, even if what he says is the truth. He also promised to refrain from being hot-headed, which he admitted is his natural personality, to protect the mental health of the people he is working with.