Former UP exec Teddy Herbosa instead of helping, added more confusion during the fire that broke out in PGH (Philippine General Hospital).
The government-run medical facility had a fire broke out on the third floor of the building around 1 a.m. causing the hospital’s central block unavailable to render medical services to its patients.
The staff of PGH on May 16 had a tough night as they were alarmed by the fire. In the hospital’s nursery, a nurse shared her experience during the incident. Apparently, the staff had to endure going back and forth in the building to salvage the medical equipment and assist the patients.
This led to donation organizers spearhead donation calls to support the PGH in its rehabilitation of the burned building.
However, Herbosa took no exception as he red-tagged the University of the Philippines’ (UP) Student Regent of being a suspicious entity who was seeking donations for the burned PGH.
Ito Oh pic.twitter.com/LOTE9DBN5S
— Teddy Herbosa MD (@Teddybird) May 16, 2021
Unfortunately for Herbosa, his accusation lashed at him as netizens and personalities disproved his claim.
https://twitter.com/carl_sembranoo/status/1393935566115262468
What are you talking about? The Office of the Student Regent is a legitimate office of the UP System. Bakit beware? Friends please help me report this tweet and account. https://t.co/FcAmtvx9Fb
— anetra coliseum (@jonginoon1) May 16, 2021
Twitter personality Philip Jamilla also clarified that it is indeed the UP’s official office of the Student Regent. He then warned the public to not believe Herbosa who grabs tragedies as “opportunities to malign and red-tag”.
The Office of the Student Regent is an official entity of the University of the Philippines system. Teddy Herbosa is already a non-entity in the university after he resigned. Beware of people like Teddy Herbosa who gladly jumps on tragedies as opportunities to malign and red-tag.
— Philip Jamilla (@pmjamilla) May 16, 2021
In his next tweet, Jamilla aired his disgust with Herbosa, calling the NTF advisor “malignant, pathetic, and disgusting”.
For people like Teddy Herbosa, an old man dying while lining up in a community pantry and a fire in the country‘s national university hospital are only mere opportunities for his deranged red-tagging spree. Beware of malignant, pathetic, and disgusting people like Teddy Herbosa.
— Philip Jamilla (@pmjamilla) May 16, 2021
Others also lambasted Herbosa for his inability to recognize the UP’s Student Regent despite being its former vice president.
https://twitter.com/markyscrackling/status/1393760059809701892?s=20
A netizen criticized Herbosa for his obvious misinformation instead of calling for unity. She stressed that with a government official like Herbosa spreading incorrect information, he insults those who were actively organizing donation drives and relief efforts to help.
The least the likes of Herbosa can do is be supportive of these initiatives but he chose to spread misinformation, instead.
These times call for unity of efforts. Sakit sa parte ng OSR at TK na laging nangunguna sa donation drives at relief efforts. https://t.co/5wYAgiatsJ
— raspberry: girl (@Ewikarrestrial) May 16, 2021
And his malicious tweet did not end there. Herbosa then announced the official bank accounts for the PGH donations.
How to help PGH. Note official bank accounts and names pic.twitter.com/HAdsS6idFY
— Teddy Herbosa MD (@Teddybird) May 17, 2021
But a netizen was confused as to why he maligned the intention of the UP Student Regent during a time of misfortune for the hospital who now is asking for help.
https://twitter.com/raufsissay/status/1393752090497875971?s=20
A student of UP pointed that the budget of PGH comes from the already insufficient UP System budget and not from the DOH (Department of Health). The call to cut out the inadequate funds or worse defund the state university because it is a “breeding ground for communists” would result in a diminished quality of care for the patients of the hospital.
The budget of PGH, designated as the National University Hospital, comes from the already-insufficient UP System budget… NOT from DOH. Calling to cut the UP budget or defund it because “pugad ng komunista” will affect the quality of care our patients in PGH get.
— Ryan C.V. Lintao (@ry_lnt) May 16, 2021
Another netizen stressed that the pandemic exposed the rotten healthcare system of the Philippines. And with PGH, a place for the poor to receive medical treatment, catching fire, there will be no available establishment to accept them in the meantime.
https://twitter.com/cheesecakekpn/status/1393639251347083264?s=20
Recently, Herbosa made headlines after he blamed Angel Locsin over the death of a senior citizen during her community pantry-cum-birthday. After receiving backlash, he resigned as the executive president of UP.
