PHOTOS: @nadine on Instagram (L), @jobert.sucaldito.50 on Facebook (R)

Actress Nadine Lustre made it to the top trending topics on Twitter today, July 1, after she lambasted showbiz anchor-writer Jobert Sucaldito.

This was after the entertainment commentator and columnist made an appearance—via Zoom—on the congressional hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal yesterday, June 30, to air his side due to what he calls as his “unceremonious dismissal” from the Kapamilya network on January 10.

The Sucaldito-Lustre fracas started in January this year after Nadine called out showbiz columnist Ricky Lo on Twitter regarding his report confirming that the actress and her then boyfriend James Reid have split up and hinted that James had been cautious in his moves as Nadine was admittedly “grappling with mental illness.”

Nadine called Ricky Lo’s move as “low,” and even pointed out that he could not even spell her name right. The online tussle gave birth of the #Anuna2020na hashtag.

Sucaldito came to defend his colleague via his radio show on DZMM because of her “marahas na bira kay Ricky Lo.” This was the time where he uttered what the public deemed as inappropriate and insensitive comments about Nadine that involved him suggesting—in jest, he said later on—for Nadine to just jump off a building.

Yesterday, June 30, the former ABS-CBN worker appeared on the hearing to once again air his side.

He told congress that his objective during that time on his radio show was just to give lecture to the actress.

“That’s not the way to handle this kind of issues,” he said in the hearing, recalling what transpired back ion January. “Dapat doon you should have reached out to Ricky Lo to air your side of the story. Hindi i-lambast mo s’ya nang ganu’n-ganu’n kasi senior kami e. Kumbaga, sabi ko, ‘if you do this to Ricky Lo you could do this to everyone.’”

He went on: “So ngayon, may mga pictorials kasi s’ya days earlier sa building na naka-bikini tapos may mga hugot lines kay James Reid. Nag-play ako with words. Ang sabi ko, ‘Kung gusto mo lang pala mapag-usapan, e, di sana tumalon ka na lang sa building.”

“That was stressing a point but I am not saying na ‘magpakamatay ka,’” Sucaldito clarified.

“Okay, ipagpalagay natin na mali ang pagkakasabi ko, I have to admit and I also felt sorry for that.”

Sucaldito also recalled that right after, he was ordered by his ABS-CBN bosses to issue a public apology on-air to appease Nadine’s fans. But that even after doing so, he was still given a suspension letter afterwards.

The entertainment writer who worked for the Kapamilya Network for 17 years said that he felt so sad after receiving indefinite suspension order from the company, thereby abruptly losing his job.  Thus, in March, he deemed it proper to file an “illegal dismissal” complaint against ABS-CBN at the Department of Labor and Employment.

During the hearing, Sucaldito also castigated his former ABS-CBN bosses and said: “Kapag hindi n’yo kaalyado, you’re out? Ganu’n kayo sa loob, e.

“I am for the ‘No To Shutdown,’ but ’yong mga tao sana sa loob who really throw the weights around, I hope you also learn your lesson… I hope you walk your talk.”

The entertainment writer made a follow up tirade against ABS-CBN on his Facebook account just hours after the hearing.

Nadine did not take Sucaldinto’s recent tirades sitting down. The actress took to her Instagram Stories earlier today, July 1, and slammed the former ABS-CBN employee. There, Nadine, without mincing words, reiterated that Sucaldito’s original comment, however you look at it, is simply wrong.

“You’re not seeing the bigger picture, Mr. Sucaldito,” Nadine started her online tirade against the entertainment writer. “It’s messed up how you are completely unashamed of what u said. It’s never okay to push someone to commit suicide.”

The actress defended her home network’s action for dismissing the showbiz anchor/columnist from the company.

“I can’t believe you’re using this issue to fight our home network whose only objective is to protect us,” Nadine remarked. “Kahit pagbali baliktarin mo, mali yung sinabi mo. Inalis ka sa trabaho dahil MALI YUNG SINABI MO and how tf is this even on congress?! Someone enlighten me. PLS.”
SCREENSHOT: @nadine on Instagram
The TV actress and celebrity endorser also expressed her dissappoinment therein for those who remain insensitive and who regard mental health issues as non-serious matters.

“Ikaw na nga yung sinabihan na tumalon tapos parang kasalanan mo pa??” she asked. “I’m sick and tired of these boomers treating mental issues like a mf joke.”

In conclusion, Nadine said: “Ayoko na. Di ko na kaya mga ganap mamsh!”