SINGAPORE - Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has dismissed the Filipino nurse whose Facebook comments targeting Singaporeans surfaced last week, angering many online.

Mr Ello Ed Mundsel Bello wrote that Singaporeans are "loosers" (losers), and that he was "praying that disators (disasters) will strike Singapore". In a statement to the media on Friday night, TTSH said Mr Bello had joined the hospital in October and was under probation when he made the "offensive online comments".

During its investigations, the hospital was alerted to and received earlier online posts by Mr Bello, including "an offensive Facebook comment on Singapore", and "two offensive comments on religion on his Google Plus page".

Mr Bello confirmed that he had made these three posts, despite having earlier told his employers that he had reported to the police that his Facebook account had been hacked. He was then dismissed.

"These comments were highly irresponsible and offensive to Singapore and religion," said a TTSH spokesman. "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."