Tan Tock Seng dismisses Filipino nurse who made inflammatory online comments

SINGAPORE - Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has dismissed staff nurse Mr Ello Ed Mundsel Bello for the "offensive comments" that he made online last year, according to an official statement released by the hospital today.

Mr Ello had used his personal Facebook and Google Plus accounts to post several offensive remarks that touched on issues regarding Singapore, race and religion.

He had written that Singaporeans are "loosers" (losers), and that he was "praying that disators (disasters) will strike Singapore".

Earlier this week, it was reported that Mr Ello was placed on administrative duties while he was being investigated.  

In the statement, the hospital said it had investigated the issue of the said posts and said that Mr Ello admitted to authoring three of the inflammatory posts despite claiming earlier that his Facebook account was hacked.

The hospital said Mr Ello had been a staff member since October last year, and was still under probation when he made those comments.

In their statement, TTSH said: "These comments were highly irresponsible and offensive to Singapore and religion. They have distressed members of the public and our hospital staff. His conduct goes against our staff values of respect, professionalism and social responsibility."

TTSH also stated that their decision to dismiss Mr Ello was "independent" of the ongoing police investigation of his more recent inflammatory comments posted on Facebook this month.

They confirmed that they are still in "full cooperation" with the police regarding this issue.

In their statement, TTSH also clarified that a quarter of their staff are foreigners, contrary to the inaccurate report by Shin Min Daily News on Jan 5. "The Hospital is proud to have a harmonious multi-cultural working environment where staff work together to provide good care for patients," TTSH said. 

ssandrea@sph.com.sg and maryanns@sph.com.sg

Full statement from TTST

We have dismissed Mr Ello Ed Mundsel Bello from our Hospital immediately for his offensive online comments made in 2014 while in our Hospital's employment. Mr Bello had joined us in October 2014 and had been under probation.

In the course of our investigations, we were alerted to and reviewed three earlier online posts made by Mr Bello in 2014 that touched on race and religion:

i) An offensive Facebook comment on Singapore;

ii) Two offensive comments on religion on his Google Plus page

Mr Bello has confirmed that he had made these three posts.

These comments were highly irresponsible and offensive to Singapore and religion. They have distressed members of the public and our hospital staff. His conduct goes against our staff values of respect, professionalism and social responsibility. As a public healthcare institution, we take a very serious view and have zero tolerance on conduct that is offensive and detrimental to multi-cultural harmony in Singapore.

Our decision for dismissal is independent of the ongoing police investigation of the more recent alleged posts made in January 2015.

We are still in full cooperation with the police on the alleged comments.

We would also like to clarify that a quarter of our staff are foreigners, contrary to the inaccurate report by Shin Min Daily News on 5 January 2015. The Hospital is proud to have a harmonious multi-cultural working environment where staff work together to provide good care for patients.

Thank you.