PHL says it accepts Singapore sedition judgement on Pinoy nurse

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said it respects the decision by a Singapore court on a Filipino nurse who was convicted of sedition for his anti-Singaporean comments on social media.
 
Ed Mundsel Bello Ello, 28, was fired from his job at the government-run Tan Tock Seng Hospital for insulting Singaporeans on Facebook and calling for a takeover of Singapore by Filipinos.
 
“Mr. Ello and his lawyer respect the judgment of the court and have done all that is possible to defend his actions,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said. “We await the sentence to be handed out by the court [on] September 16.”
 
 
He also pleaded guilty for lying to the police when he insisted that his social media account was hacked and that the posts were made by someone else.
 
Under Sinagpore laws, maximum penalty for sedition is three years imprisonment plus a fine of SG$5,000. Providing false information to authorities carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and/or a fine of SG$ 5,000 per charge.
 
The Philippines, one of the top labor exporting countries in the world, has constantly reminded Filipinos to be sensitive to the laws of their host countries, especially on what they post on social media.
 
“They should always be careful and follow the laws,” Jose said. — Michaela del Callar/RSJ, GMA News

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