Filipinos are known for reacting the moment foreigners say something that they think is offensive to them and their countrymen. But what happens when it goes the other way around?
A Filipino nurse named Ello Ed Mundsel Bello has posted in Facebook offensive rant posts about Singaporeans.
His post from last year said that “Stinkaporeans” are “[losers] in their own country.” Bello furthermore said that he’ll be praying for a huge disaster to strike Singapore.
A second Facebook post read that the hopes that Filipinos will kick out all the Singaporeans, “and [Singapore] will be the new [F]ilipino state.”
Bello’s Facebook discriminatory rants sparked anger among both Filipino and Singaporean netizens. The moment the posts reached the management of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he works, he was immediately investigated.
The hospital also released a statement following the investigation. They said that they “do not condone behaviors or comments that are irresponsible and offensive, and will take the appropriate disciplinary action when necessary.”
The investigation recommended Bello to take up administrative duties, but when further investigation on his posts in 2014 proved that his rants touched on race and religion, he was immediately dismissed.
Bello was arrested on April 7 and faces two counts of sedition. When examined by the police, he claimed that his Facebook was hacked and someone else posted the rants. Upon finding out that it was him, who posted the rants, he was charged with providing false information to the police.
Bello will either pay a fine of SG$5,000 or three years in jail for the first offense and an additional SG$5,000 or one year in jail for the second offense.
