Veteran showbiz reporter and writer Jobert Sucaldito told the lawmakers on Wednesday how his 17 years of service in ABS-CBN ended because of Kapamilya’s top star Nadine Lustre.
During the Congress’ hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise, Sucaldito narrated how the issue started between him and Lustre who’s considered as one of the most popular celebrities of the said network.
According to him, he heard about the breakup rumors between James Reid and Lustre and decided to cover the story.
Sucaldito insisted that he only wanted to lecture Lustre who’s hinting to end her life on her own because of the breakup.
“December 30, ng may lumabas na headline sa Bulgar newspaper kung saan na sinabi ni Nadine na magpapakamatay kapag iniwan siya ni James Reid, so kinagabihan, we discussed that in our program,” said Sucaldito.
“I discussed that in our program, in fact pinangaralan ko si Nadine because you know, I like that girl, ang sabi ko sa kanya ‘That’s not the way to handle a heart break’ sabi ko ‘hindi mo kailangan magpakamatay, unang una you are a beautiful girl, may pangalan ka, at tsaka its against the law of God and the law of the land,” he added.
A few weeks after, Sucaldito then criticized Lustre after the latter called out entertainment writer Ricky Lo for claiming that she’s already separated with Reid.
During that time Sucaldito made a controversial statement to Lustre who was being accused of just making noise.
“May mga pictorials kasi siya earlier na may mga pictorial siya doon sa may building naka bikini, tapos may mga hugot lines siya kay James, so nag play ako with words, ang sabi ko ‘kung mo lang naman pag usapan edi tumalon ka nalang sa building’ that was stressing a point, but I’m not saying na magpakamatay ka,” he stated.
Two days after he made the said comments, Sucaldito said that he received a call from a station manager asking him to apologize for his remarks against Lustre.
He was also asked to remove his social media about Lustre and Lo.
After he made a public apology, he was invited by the said station manager and asked to sign an indefinite suspension letter with no pay.
“May nakita ako ditong line na parang hindi ko maintindihan na threatening na sa aking work because I’d work for you for 17 years tapos may ganitong eksena, sabi ko ‘ano ito?’ that suspension of my contract with ABS,” Sucaldito said.
Sucaldito said that he refused to sign the said letter and asked his lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio to file an illegal dismissal complaint against ABS-CBN.
“Nalulungkot ako lalo everytime na I would hear sir Carlo Katigbak saying they’re concern about the who will lose jobs kasi kawawa naman sila walang makain, pero how about us, papaano kami, naisip niyo ba kami?” Sucaldito said.
“Sabi ko nga nalulungkot ako because this is a sign na parang Kapamilya tayo but you are so heartless ni hindi niyo nga ako binigyan ng pagkakataon na (magpaliwanag),” he added.
Before ending his speech, he clarified that he’s supporting the continuation of ABS-CBN’s operation, but he’s hoping that the high rankings official of the Kapamilya network would learn their lesson.
“Nakakalungkot, I hope you walk your talk, ‘yung making use of the 11,000+ employees as human shields, pero ang totoo niyan hindi naman talaga totoong may puso kayo, its just dramatizing everything, kaya nalulungkot ako,” he said.
Sucaldito has gone viral in the past because of his open letter against ABS-CBN.
Meanwhile, Lustre reacted to Sucaldito’s statement.
“I can’t believe you’re using this issue to fight our home network whose only objective is to protect us. Kahit pagbali baliktarin mo, mali ‘yung sinabi mo. Inalis ka sa trabaho dahil MALU YUNG SINABI MO and how th is this even on congress?! Someone enlighten me. PLS.” Lustre wrote.
“Ikaw na ‘yung sinabihan na tumalon tapos parang kasalanan mo pa? I’m sick and tired of these bommers treating mental issues like it’s a mf joke,” she added.
Nadine Lustre has spoken! Any person’s mental health illness is a serious matter which should never be taken lightly! Sucaldito made a mistake and he should own up to it.
WE GOT YOU NADINE#ProtectNadineLustre pic.twitter.com/A7mzV8hufa
— JaDine NATION (@JaDine__NATION) July 1, 2020