Publisher’s statement -The truth will make things clear and set you free

Good Day!
I am Robert Maico, GMA Stringer, Publisher of Southpost PH,  Newsroom Pilipinas, and Manager of the Sulong Laguna Facebook Page.

I am issuing this statement to formally respond to a personal attack against me as a media practitioner in the province of Laguna. I choose not to engage in arguments on social media, especially with accounts that appear to be trolls — a point I will further prove by the end of this article.

This issue began from a misunderstanding — or what can be considered a quarrel — between myself and Ms. Cyril Quilo, which took place in our group chat. I have already formally brought this matter to the attention of the office of concerned official through an formal letter.

Here is an excerpt from that letter:

Subject: Clarification and Request for Guidance Regarding Interaction with MRO

I am writing to inform you about a recent misunderstanding between myself and your newly assigned Media Relations Officer (MRO), Ms. Cyril Quilo.

This began when she shared a message in our group chat that read:
“May tip din po ako… ayaw ni Cong  ng copy paste lang kayo, binabasa niya lahat. So please need nyo baguhin ang title lead ng press release. That’s unethical for a legit journalist. SALAMAT PO…”

While I understand that the intention may have been to provide constructive feedback, I asked a follow-up question about whether she actually reviews the outputs of the media members in our group. Unfortunately, her response was:
“You need to have reading comprehension.”

As a media practitioner with years of experience working with different MROs, I found this reply unprofessional and disrespectful.

I then expressed my stand that if an MRO wishes to give feedback or suggestions to the media, it should be a win-win solution — beneficial both to media practitioners and to your office. I believe that if there are concerns about copying press releases, the advice should go beyond changing just the lead. The body of the press release should also be rewritten, re-angled, or restyled according to each journalist’s editorial guidelines or the platform they represent. Merely replacing the lead but copying the rest of the content still gives the impression of “copy-paste” journalism.

To illustrate my point, I used a Filipino idiom:
“Parang hipon — kain ang ulo, tapon ang katawan.”

This was meant to explain that changing only the lead while keeping the entire body unchanged is misleading — it may appear as if we made an effort, but in truth, the bulk of the content remains lifted from the original press release.

Unfortunately, the MRO misinterpreted this expression as a personal attack and did not focus on the issue at hand. Several other media members in the group also commented that feedback should be addressed directly and professionally to specific individuals, especially if the MRO has been monitoring outputs and has seen instances of copying. Making general statements in group chats can embarrass others and damage working relationships.

We believe it is more professional for MROs to personally reach out when issues arise. We are hopeful that with proper guidance, a smoother and more respectful working relationship between your office’s media team and the press can be ensured.

Due to the illustration I shared—which was apparently misunderstood—it seemed that Ms. Cy failed to apply proper reading comprehension and eventually left our group chat. This marked the beginning of an online attack targeting my credibility as a journalist but also at me personally.

Take note that what I said is the opposite of what others usually say when making green jokes.

I said: “Kain ulo, tapon katawan” — but what people usually say with a malicious twist is: **”Tapon ulo, kain katawan.”

This expression is commonly associated with eating shrimp, but others interpret it with double meaning or innuendo. The two phrases are clearly different, yet some still choose to take it the wrong way. On my part, It was clearly quoted out of context.

I would now like to present my side of the story, along with supporting evidence. Meanwhile, I chose not to trouble the witnesses who were present during the exchange, so I will not include their personal comments at this time.

What kind of online attacks are being made, and who is behind on this?

This morning, I noticed several comments appearing on posts from the Sulong Laguna Facebook page, which I manage. One of the comments was made by an account under the name Sollag Ffoeg, and shortly after, the post was shared by another account named Jeff GT.

I strongly deny and condemn these attacks against me. Through further research to identify the person behind these accounts, I discovered that Jeff GT is actually Jeff Tumbado. It appears that Jeff Tumbado, Jeff GT, and Sollag Ffoeg are one and the same individual.

Here are the screenshots I gathered based on publicly available posts that support this finding.

Online Troll Account Operator?

I recall during the 2025 election campaign that a group page called Calamba Exposé frequently posted fake news, misinformation, and disinformation targeting the City of Calamba. While it wasn’t an official page, it functioned as a group that operated in a similar manner.

The style of attack seems strikingly familiar to the recent incidents. It makes one wonder — could the same people be behind these efforts to mislead the public once again? And if so, how much are they being paid to do it?

I do not personally know this individual, but he appears to be associated with Ms. Quilo. The threats made by Ms. Quilo in our group chat bear a striking similarity to the ongoing attacks targeting my credibility.

There was a time when Ms. Quilo herself admitted to being behind the account JG Tumbado, which was used to attack the former Governor of Laguna. This raises serious questions about their true intentions — are they genuinely practicing journalism, or is spreading online attacks and character assassination their means of livelihood?

There were also instances where she was observed teaching fellow media practitioners improper or unethical methods of journalism. That’s why I was no longer surprised by the kind of attacks they launched against me.

Jeff Tumbado

Who exactly is Jeff Tumbado? Does this person truly have any credibility, especially considering the way he speaks and hides behind a troll account? What is his real background?

Watch the publicly available videos and judge for yourself.

Given the nature of these attacks, it is now more important than ever for the public to remain vigilant—carefully discerning facts and seeking the truth. I believe I am not the only one who has fallen victim to their tactics.

To both Jeff Tumbado and Cyrill Quilo, there is always hope for change. I sincerely urge you not to use social media as a tool for personal attacks or character assassination—especially when the argument is no longer in your favor. I do not fully understand your motive for singling me out, but always remember: karma will eventually find its way.

As for my personal lesson in all of this: whenever you take a stand for what is right, expect to be attacked. Just like other principled individuals, those who stand firm are often targeted by critics and bashers.