Columnist and radio host Jobert Sucaldito filed a complaint for illegal dismissal against ABS-CBN Network and DZMM including its station manager Mara Capuyan before Labor Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III on Wednesday, March 4 together with Sucaldito was Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.
This was after the entertainment reporter-columnist was suspended from DZMM after he made comment about Nadine Lustre’s mental health to defend veteran journalist Ricky Lo who allegedly spread false information regarding the latter’s breakup with James Reid.
Last January 6, Sucaldito castigated the actress for lambasting Lo and even made a harsh comment about Lustre’s mental health on-air.
“You are wrong here. Unang-una, gusto namin ipaalala sa inyo lahat na mga fans ng JaDine, hindi kami ang may pakulo ng lahat ng ito. Wala kaming alam sa mga buhay ng mga idol ‘nyo. Sila ang gawa-gawa ng kuwento na ang mali namin pinatulan namin kaya medyo lumaki at pinag-uusapan,” he said.
“‘Di ba ‘yun naman ang gusto nila? Kuno kuno may mga labas ang pwet, naka t-back pa doon sa building tapos may nakalagay na mga caption na parang gustong tumalon. Sana tumalon na lang, kung ganun lang din naman pala.”
Many netizens especially Lustre’s fans were offended with Sucaldito’s statement, making it one of the trending topics on Twitter Philippines.
However, on January 9, the radio host and talent manager apologized to Lustre as well as to others who got offended by his insensitive remarks.
He also apologized to his radio network DZMM for the discomfort he has caused them.
“I would like to apologize to Ms. Nadine Lustre and to those who got bothered by that sa aspetong ito. I am also apologizing to my radio network DZMM for putting them in discomfort because of this.”
Prior to his apology, Ging Reyes, the head of ABS-CBN News released a statement regarding Sucaldito’s comments.
According to the issued statement, they are already investigating the matter and will make sure their journalists are accountable for their statements on-air.
“We in ABS-CBN News take the issue of mental health very seriously. This was even the subject of a recent documentary that was produced. We are investigating reports that DZMM host Jobert Sucaldito uttered inappropriate and insensitive comments regarding actress Nadine Lustre’s state of mental health. Our journalists and other members of our team are accountable for their on-air statements.”
Sucaldito was suspended from his show on DZMM because of the issue.
Via Facebook, the journalist aired his sentiments regarding his suspension and the struggles he has to go through for being without a source of income.
He said, “More than 1 month na akong suspended sa DZMM program naming SHOWBUZZ – WITHOUT PAY ha. Mga fans (the trolls ha – not the educated ones) lang pala ni Nadine Lustre ang makakapagpatanggal sa akin sa show na lubos na pinaniwalaan yata ng napakahusay naming station manager. So sad. I’d like to think that I was a very loyal Kapamilya pero ano nangyari? Nganga ang baklita! Seriously, I don’t know kung ipagdarasal ko pa sila for the renewal of the franchise. Sayang – malakas pa naman ako kay Lord. Ha! Ha! Ha!”
In a separate post, he wrote: “Painful but that’s the reality. Mahirap kaya ang maging jobless for a month (di mo alam kung hanggang kailan – baka till the end of time) lalo pa’t breadwinner ka. House rental, kuryente, food, baon ng mga pinag-aaral, etc. Nabubuhay muna sa konting diskarte.”
Furthermore, Jobert labeled the management of his radio network as heartless and insensitive for suspending him without prior notice.
He said, “What’s sad about this ay kinikiyeme pa akong under investigation daw ang isyu ko ng ethics committee ng ABS-CBN pero parang iba naman ang nagaganap. Papa Ambet Nabus texted me last January 30 na inaalok daw sa kaniya ang Showbuzz pero tinanggihan niya por delicadeza dahil sa friendship namin. Ang kaya lang daw niyang maibigay ay 2x a week dahil busy rin siya. Kaya thanks Papa Ambet for the delicadeza. Imagine, parang buhay ka pa ay inililibing ka na nila. How heartless of these people, di ba? How insensitive!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSFRZcUPFtk
Jobert has been with ABS-CBN for 20 years and for more than 17 years, he worked for DZMM that’s why he said his work suspension saddened the radio host.
“Nalungkot ako sobra dahil 20 years akong nasa ABS-CBN and more than 17 years sa DZMM ay bigla na lang akong tatratuhing parang basura. Sinunod ko naman lahat ng inutos nila pero anong nangyari? Meron lang talagang mga tao sa loob na ayaw talaga sa akin at gusto akong patalsikin at mukhang kilala ko naman sila. Anong kinatatakot ninyo kung wala naman kayong mga ginagawang anomalyang alam ko, di ba? Di naman ako traidor na tao. Pag lalo niyo akong binubusalan, lalo akong pumipiglas ha. You know naman my character. Basta sa tama lang tayo. Sobrang bait ko, I don’t bite the hands that feed me pero pag sukdulan na, mararamdaman ninyo ang ngipin ko.”
Jobert Sucaldito’s past issues
Aside from Nadine, Jobert has been in conflict with several artists like Erik Santos and Willie Revillame.
Jobert vs. Erik Santos
On March 30, 2017, singer Erik Santos formally filed a libel case against Sucaldito after the latter allegedly accused the former of ‘being gay and engaging in lewd acts.’
Santos’s camp won the case.
Jobert vs. Willie Revillame
Back in 2010 former Kapamilya host Willie Revillame had been in a huge rift with Sucaldito after the latter allegedly insulted the contestants of his former show, Wowowee.
Willie also threatened ABS-CBN management he would resign if Jobert would not be dismissed.
However, the management did not fire Jobert. Instead, they filed a lawsuit against the host for violating the behavioral provisions of his contract. Willie left ABS-CBN and moved to TV5 despite his contract with the Kapamilya network still in effect. Revillame is currently hosting Wowowin on GMA Network.
