Nanindigan ang TV host-actress na si Maine Mendoza na inosente ang kanyang mister, ang aktor at Quezon City First District congressman na si Arjo Atayde, sa mga alegasyon laban dito.
Kaugnay pa rin ito ng pagdadawit sa pangalan ni Arjo ng mag-asawang contractors na sina Curlee at Sarah Discaya sa pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa maanomalyang flood control projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) noong Lunes, Setyembre 8, 2025.
Ayon kay Curlee, kabilang si Arjo sa mga congressmen at DPWH offcials na tumanggap ng porsyento mula sa flood control projects na nakuha ng kanilang mga kompanya.
Binanggit din ni Curlee na pinababalik niya kay Arjo ang PHP60 million na ibinigay umano ng contractor sa ama ng actor-politician na si Art Atayde.
Read: Curlee Discaya, gustong bawiin ang PHP60M mula kay Arjo Atayde
MAINE MENDOZA'S FIRST STATEMENT
Unang naglabas ng pahayag si Maine, sa pamamagitan ng X (dating Twitter), noong Lunes.
Dito ay tinawag niyang "baseless allegations" at "napaka-unfair" ang pinakawalang pasabog ng mag-asawang Discaya laban kay Arjo.
Nakiusap din ang Eat Bulaga! host na iwasan ang pagbabato ng mga batikos laban kay Arjo, at maging sa kanya at sa kanilang pamilya, hangga't hindi lumalabas ang katotohanan.
Nanindigan din si Maine na walang "ginagawang masama" ang mister niya sa katungkulan nito bilang kongresista.
Simula't sapul daw ay ginagawa ni Arjo ang lahat upang mapagsilbihan ang mga kadistrito nito sa Quezon City.
Umaasa at ipinagdarasal daw ni Maine na managot ang tunay na may kagagawan sa isyung ito at hindi na madamay ang mga inosente.
Read: Maine Mendoza stands by Arjo Atayde amid Discaya allegation
Bago ito ay mariin ding pinabulaanan ni Arjo mismo ang mga paratang laban sa kanya.
Hindi raw siya kailanman nagkaroon ng kasunduan sa mag-asawang Discaya.
Gagawa rin daw siya ng legal na hakbang upang linisin ang kanyang pangalan at panagutin ang mga nagpapakalat ng kasinungalingan laban sa kanya.
Read: Arjo Atayde on Discayas: "I’ve never dealt with them."
MAINE MENDOZA: "NOT A SINGLE PART OF OUR LIFE HAS BEEN BUILT ON TAXPAYERS' MONEY"
Ngayong Miyerkules ng gabi, Setyembre 10, muling naglabas ng pahayag si Maine upang pabulaanan ang mga nagsanga-sanga nang alegasyon laban kay Arjo at sa kani-kanilang pamilya.
Sa pagkakataong ito, ginamit ng sikat na showbiz personality ang kanyang Facebook account upang iparating ang saloobin sa mga nagsisilabasang paratang sa kanila.
Ayon kay Maine, napagtanto niyang tila "informal and casual" ang nauna niyang reaksiyon nang pumutok ang isyu.
Naramdaman daw kasi niya noong magsalita agad matapos malaman ang balita at mapakinggan ang panig ni Arjo tungkol sa pagkakadawit nito sa maanomalyang flood control projects.
Bagamat alam niyang mas mabuting tumahimik na lamang, minarapat daw ni Maine na muling magsalita dahil ayaw nitong ang huling tweet ang tanging pahayag niya tungkol sa isyu.
Saad ni Maine (published as is): "Forgive me for speaking up again this time. I know it may be wiser to stay silent while the investigation is ongoing, but I cannot let my last tweet be my only statement."
Batid daw ni Maine ang mga akusasyon, kritisismo, at panghuhusga na ibinabato ng publiko laban kay Arjo, sa kanya, at sa kanilang pamilya.
Aminado ang TV host-actress na nasasaktan siya sa mga ito, ngunit hindi raw niya hahayaang manaig ang kasinungalingan.
Read: Curlee Discaya claims politicians, 120M Filipinos want them dead
Diin ni Maine, wala ni isa mang bahagi ng kanilang buhay ang nanggaling sa pera ng taxpayers.
Pareho raw sila ni Arjo, at ang kanilang pamilya, na kayang tustusan ang klase ng pamumuhay mayroon sila.
Saad ni Maine: "Not a single part of our life has been built on taxpayers’ money. Everything we have comes from years of work and savings.
"We pay our taxes, and we pay them truthfully, because we respect the same system we are accused of betraying.
"Both of us (and our families) are financially capable of sustaining the lives that we live, and it’s personally offensive to be accused of spending money that we have rightfully earned outside politics.
"It’s unfair to reduce everything that we are and everything that we have worked for to that single narrative."
Dagdag pa niya: "I will never accept the narrative that accuses us of stealing and living off taxpayers’ money.
"That is not who Arjo is, that is not who I am, and that is not who we are—no amount of noise and accusations will ever make it true."
Kung sakali mang totoong guilty si Arjo sa mga ibinibintang dito, tiyak daw na hindi niya ito ipagtatanggol at pagtatakpan.
"And if Arjo ever did anything dishonest, if he were truly guilty, I certainly wouldn’t defend him and cover for him," sabi ni Maine.
Read: Joy Belmonte asks Arjo Atayde about flood control project in QC
MAINE SAYS ARJO WILL NEVER STEAL FROM PEOPLE
Buong-buo ang paniniwala ni Maine na hinding-hindi magnanakaw si Arjo mula sa pera ng taumbayan.
Ito ay sa gitna ng mga nagsisilabasang videos at larawan na nagpapakita ng kanilang marangyang pamumuhay — kabilang na ang mga ari-arian nila at madalas na pagbibiyahe sa ibang bansa.
Pagtatanggol ni Maine kay Arjo: "Accuse him of other things if you wish, but not of stealing from people—that is one line he has never crossed, and never will.
"I get that the current allegations, photos taken out of context, and the stories being spread online may look different to some. But let’s not forget that perception is not always reality.
"Narratives can be twisted so easily, and many are quick to believe what fits their perspective.
"But the truth always finds its way to light and that’s what we are holding on to."
Umaasa si Maine na kapag lumabas ang katotohanan ay mapagtanto ng mga kaagad nanghusga ang kanilang kamalian.
Pero alam niyang mahirap itong mangyari dahil kahit daw lumabas na ang katotohanan ay hindi ito papansinin ng iba at magpapatuloy sa pambabatikos.
Saad ni Maine: "And when the truth comes out, I hope those who judged and condemned us so quickly—especially those who filled platforms and our spaces with all sorts of hate—also take a moment to recognize how harsh and hasty their judgments were.
"But we all know that rarely happens. Because even when the truth is presented, some would rather ignore it and just keep on condemning."
Kaisa raw ni Maine ang sambayanan sa nagpupuyos ang galit sa dinaranas na hirap ng marami sa ating kababayan dahil sa kagagawan ng mga tiwaling politiko at mga kasabwat nila.
Naniniwala rin si Maine na dapat managot ang tunay na may kasalanan.
Pahayag niya: "It is truly distressing to see people suffer in times of crisis because of corrupt politicians who put self-interest above all else, alongside their accomplices. Nakakagalit talaga.
"And we also believe those who are truly guilty should face accountability.
"Again, the truth will reveal itself in the end. We can only hope and pray that the justice system delivers justice to those who deserve it and to whom it’s due."
Alam daw ni Maine na "easy targets" sila dahil pareho silang nasa limelight ni Arjo, pero maling tao raw ang hinahatulan ng publiko.
Saad ni Maine: "I know we may be easy targets, but you are condemning the wrong people.
"I understand that people will choose to believe what they want to believe, and some will continue to mock, criticize, and crucify us no matter what.
"But legal actions will be taken, and Arjo will clear his name by proving his innocence. Let’s allow due process to run its course before we condemn.
"God knows the truth, and we stand with clean hands.
"Remember the three sides to every story: their version, our version, and the truth. And we are confident that we stand on the side of truth.
"Arjo has nothing to hide. He has never been guilty of stealing.
"I’ll end with this, not all politicians are corrupt—some are just convenient targets. The real villains are celebrating quietly in the shadows."
Read: Discayas name congressmen who allegedly took cuts from DPWH deals