Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 5) — Showbiz commentator and columnist Jobert Sucaldito filed Wednesday a complaint against ABS-CBN before the Labor Department over his supposed illegal dismissal from its AM radio station DZMM for his on-air comments about actress Nadine Lustre.
Sucaldito alleged that DZMM station manager Marah Capuya presented him a letter on January 10 saying that he would be indefinitely suspended without pay over supposed violations. He said that he was asked to sign the letter, but he refused.
He added that he has followed up on his suspension from DZMM, but has been repeatedly told that its ethics panel is still investigating his case.
He also said that this happened even after he had given in to requests by the radio station to apologize to Lustre and to take down social media posts pertaining to the incident.
“Anong gusto mong gawin ko? Tumalon sa building para mapatunayan na ako’y sincere?” Sucalidto told reporters before he and his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio filed his complaint.
[Translation: What do you want me to do? Jump from a building to show that I’m sincere?]
He said that ABS-CBN should have just given him a warning instead of suspending him indefinitely.
“I’ve been working with ABS-[CBN] for 20 years, and 17 years of which, I was with DZMM. Tapos ganyan-ganyan lang sisipain mo ako because of the fans na nagrereklamo? Hindi nila naisip kami that work for you? Asan mga puso niyo? Tatanggalan niyo ako ng trabaho? What happens to my family? What happens to my children?” Sucaldito said.
[Translation: I’ve been working with ABS-CBN for 20 years, and 17 years of which, I was with DZMM. And then they’ll just kick me out because fans are complaining? Don’t they realize that we work for them? Where are your hearts? You’ll fire me? What happens to my family? What happens to my children?]
ABS-CBN News said in January that it is investigating Sucaldito’s “inappropriate and insensitive comments” about Lustre.
Sucaldito drew flak after joking that the actress — who has admitted before that she has struggled with depression — should just jump off a building in light of reports that she and James Reid had split.
Lustre at the time denied that they had broken up, only to confirm it two weeks later.
If you are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, you may call the following hotlines: (02) 804-HOPE (4673), 0917 558 HOPE (4673), 2919 (toll-free number for all GLOBE and TM subscribers).
