3 Jan - A "Edz Ello" sends message to the country: "I will be praying that disators (sic) strike Singapore and more Singaporeans will die than (sic) I will celebrate." It was obviously not the best of congratulatory salutations for the SG50 festivities.
4 Jan (11 am) - Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) issues a statement on its Facebook page, promising to look into the matter: "Dear all, thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We expect our staff to be respectful and professional. Rest assured we are looking into this."
4 Jan (1 pm) - TTSH issues an update on Facebook claiming that their Filipino employee’s Facebook account had been hacked, implying the offensive postings were not made by him. TTSH also said its employee has made a police report, hopefully mindful that giving false information to a public servant is a serious offence. Offenders can be punished with a jail term, or with a fine, or both.
4 Jan - Former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Calvin Cheng reminds Singaporeans to "have more of a backbone and thickskin", adding:
"Tan Tock Seng Hospital has said that the account of its Filipino staff was hacked but even if it wasn't so what? Are you going to go on a frenzied witch -hunt just because some foreigner called you a loser on the Internet ?"
5 Jan - Philippine Embassy issues a reminder to its Facebook followers to be responsible when posting online content. Not sure if also directed against Cheng's ranting commentary.
5 Jan - TTSH's latest Facebook post announces that nurse Ello has been put on “administrative duties”, pending police investigations. The Hospital does not make it entirely clear whether the police are investigating the hacking of Ello's account or the offensive comments attributed to him.
6 Jan - The Singapore Police Force (SPF) acknowledges a report has been lodged against the TTSH staff member.
9 Jan - TTSH announces that "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." Apparently someone confirmed Ello Ed Mundsel Bello a.k.a. Edz Ello has owned up authorship to the inflammatory posts. As quid quo pro, TTSH hit out at another posting: "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." Hmmm, looks like Calvin Cheng is not the only Pinoy lover in town.