Veteran radio host and showbiz columnist Jobert Sucaldito revealed several details about the work environment inside ABS-CBN, saying that many workers of the television network giant experienced unfair treatment from the management.
In a Facebook post, Sucaldito clarified that he’s sympathizing with the people affected by the ABS-CBN shutdown, however, the management of the Kapamilya network should stop using the ‘11,000 employees’ as ‘human shields’.
Sucaldito said that ABS-CBN should stop using their employees to get the support of the public as he heard stories about former workers of the Kapamilya network being dismissed unfairly in different ways, including him.
The columnist also mentioned the story of former cameraman of ABS-CBN Journalie Payonan who narrated how the management of the Kapamilya network invited his colleagues who are expecting for promotion to a feast only to be told that they’re going to lose their jobs.
“Yung mga iba nabubulagan lang. Nadadala sa matatamis na dila ng ilang bosses diyan. Kung naalala niyo pa, maraming cameramen ang na-dismiss illegally diyan – maraming anchors ang pinagtatanggal nila dahil hindi nila kaalyado and kasali na ako diyan. Sabihin niyo nang I have an axe to grind against DZMM and ABS-CBN pero you have to realize also some truths behind all their dramas and all,” Sucaldito said.
“Nasa news iyan before – nung pinatawag ng mga bosses ang maraming cameramen sa isang five-star hotel and were served the best lunch in the world and after nilang kumain tsaka ibinigay ang walking papers nila. Masakit iyon sobra!!!! Sobrang sakit para sa mga cameramen na dekadang nagserbisyo sa kanila ‘tapos bigla na lang nilang tatanggalin nang ganoon-ganoon. Parang nasilya-elektrika ang mga iyon,” he added.
“SAAN ANG SINASABI NINYONG PUSO NG KAPAMILYA? SAAN? Ganoon ba ang Kapamilya? Walang puso? Dahil contractual lang sila kaya anytime ay puwede niyo silang sipain palabas? Anong kasalanan nila?” he asked.
Sucaldito also said that some popular artists are only being vocal in supporting ABS-CBN because they’re earning big money from the network while disregarding the other issues being faced by the television network giant.
“Kung napansin ninyo, sino ba ang yumaman sa ABS-CBN – silang magkakuntsaba lang naman sa loob ah. Sa rank and file, may gumanda ba ang buhay? Sa mga artists? Ilang libo ba ang mga artista at singers na walang trabaho? Kung mapansin ninyo, sila-sila ring mga alaga ng mga tagaloob ang napapanood sa mga teleserye – judge sa mga pakontes – regular sa ASAP – ano pa? Kung freelancer ka, mapalad kung makapag-guest ka once in a while. Natural na ipagtanggol sila ng mga piling-artistang ito dahil nakikinabang pa sa kanila. Ilan lang iyon,” the columnist said.
According to Sucaldito, artists should not defy the high-ranking officials of ABS-CBN or their favorite talents because they might face trouble inside the network.
The columnist even challenged the officials of ABS-CBN, not to argue with him because he might disclose more details about the Kapamilya network.
“Pag napag-initan ang isang artista sa loob, nunca nang makakalabas sa mga shows nila iyan. Subukan mong kalabanin si Cory Vidanes, Johnny Manahan, Deo Endrinal, Lauren Dyogi, etc., tingnan natin kung makakabalik ka pa diyan. Kailangang himurin mo mga puwet nila or sumunod ka sa mga gusto nila,” he said.
Sucaldito then narrated how he was ‘illegally dismissed’ in ABS-CBN-owned DZMM, after working there for 17 years because of the ‘Nadine Lustre issue’.
He claimed that he was forced to sign a voluntary indefinite suspension, but he refused to do it.
On March 5, Sucaldito filed an illegal dismissal complaint against ABS-CBN Network and DZMM.
“Subukan ninyong pumalag ngayon at baka ilabas ko ang mga baho ninyo. Don’t provoke me! Yung ginawa nila sa mga cameramen and other previous illegally-dismissed employees ay nagawa rin nila sa akin. Yes, January 7, 2020 pa lang ay di na ako pinapasok sa program ko sa DZMM because of the Nadine Lustre issue na iyon. Ang masaklap, pinag-apologize nila ako the day after my commentary then di na ako pinag-show,” he said.
“January 10, 2020 ay pinatawag ako ng meeting with my very competent kunong station manager na si Marah Capuyan at pilit akong pinapipirma ng indefinite suspension ng aking contract. And may go-signal ito sa ilan naming bosses. G*go ba ako para pirmahan iyon? Pinapunta ako para tanggalin ang sarili ko. Gin*go ako, di ba? Hindi ako ulol, ‘oy! Kaya wala akong choice kungdi ang ireklamo sila sa DOLE dahil kahit contractual ako, 17 years akong nagsilbe sa DZMM and almost 20 years sa ABS-CBN. Ilalaban ko lang ang karapatan ko and nothing more,” he added.
Before ending his post, Sucaldito said that ABS-CBN should not claim that the issue they’re facing is about politics or freedom of the press.
He also called what’s happening to ABS-CBN as ‘karma’ for using God in the issue.
“Ngayon sasabihin ninyong pinulitika lang kayo ng pamahalaan kaya pinasara kayo at dumadrama pa kayong papaano na lang ang mga pamilya ng more than 11,000 employees na damay sa pagsara nito. Hoy, magtigil kayo! Kayo nga itong mga walang pusong pinagtatanggal ang mga cameramen na iyon – pinakain pa ng masarap bago tsinugi. Kahudasan, di ba? Sa totoo lang, mas grabe ang pulitika sa loob ng istasyon. Iyan ang totoo riyan,” he said.
“Huwag tayong maglokohan. Anong pagkitil sa malayang pamamahayag? Kami nga’y halos scripted na lang ang puwedeng sabihin dahil bawal ang ganito…bawal ang ganyan. Alin ang malaya roon? Mabuti na lang at showbiz ang beat namin kaya we can sometimes play with words. Kaya stop the drama. Ilaban na lang ninyo legally ang pagbabalik ng ABS-CBN – stop using the people as human shields. Kaya tigilan na yang mga kiyemeng pagkalap ng 6 million signatures, etc. Let’s not tolerate kahayupan on earth. Tingnan niyo nga at naka-karma na tayong lahat dahil gamit na gamit na ang Panginoon sa mga kagagahan nating lahat. Tamaan na ng COVID 19 ang nagsisinungaling dito para matapos na ang isyu,” he added.
Sucaldito is one of the most controversial workers of ABS-CBN.
In 2010, Willie Revillame, the host of now-defunct noontime show in ABS-CBN ‘Wowowin’ said that he would leave the network unless they fire Sucaldito who became critical of his show.
On May 5, NTC ordered ABS-CBN to close down its operations and now airing their shows on the internet.