Photo credit: Congressman Arjo Atayde

Actress and host Maine Mendoza has issued a lengthy and detailed statement on her social media, once again coming to the defense of her husband, Quezon City 1st District Representative Arjo Atayde. The statement follows a Senate hearing where contractors named Atayde as one of those involved in a scheme concerning government flood-control projects.

Mendoza's new post is a more formal and comprehensive follow-up to her initial tweet on the matter. She explained that she felt compelled to speak out again because her first reaction came across as informal and casual.

In her statement, Mendoza directly addressed the accusations that their family’s life and finances are built on taxpayers' money. She emphatically denied this, stating, "Not a single part of our life has been built on taxpayers’ money. Everything we have comes from years of work and savings." She stressed that she and her husband are financially capable of sustaining the lives that we live and that it is personally offensive to be accused of spending money that we have rightfully earned outside politics.

Mendoza also spoke to the personal toll the allegations have taken. She admitted that the remarks she has received have been hurtful, but she will not let lies define who they are. She stood by her husband's integrity, stating she would not defend him if he were truly guilty of stealing from the public.

The actress urged the public to wait for the facts to come out, reminding people that "perception is not always reality." She concluded her statement with a firm declaration that legal actions will be taken and that her husband is prepared to clear his name by proving his innocence.