Naglabas muli ng pahayag si Maine Mendoza para ipagtanggol ang kaniyang asawa na si Quezon City 1st District Representative Arjo Atayde, at pamilya nito. Ito ay matapos tukuyin ng mag-asawang kontratista na Discaya ang actor-politician na kabilang umano sa mga mambabatas na sangkot sa katiwalian sa flood control projects.
Sa Facebook post nitong Miyerkules, sinabi Maine na maling mga tao ang kinokondena ng mga bumabatikos tungkol sa alegasyon ng katiwalian sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan.
"After being bombarded with vile remarks the past 48 hours, I will not pretend they don't sting, but I will also not allow lies to define who we are," saad ng TV host-actress.
"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," patuloy niya.
Sinabi rin ni Maine na may kakayahang pinansiyal sila ng mga Atayde na suportahan ang kanilang lifestyle, na sinisilip ngayon ng ilan bunga ng usapin ng katiwalian sa flood control projects.
"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," saad niya.
Binigyang-diin ni Mendoza na hindi niya pagtatakpan kung sakaling may ginawang masama ang kaniyang asawa, ngunit nanindigan siyang wala itong ninakaw na pera ng bayan.
Lilinisin umano ng kaniyang asawa ang pangalan nito sa legal na paraan.
"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," ani Maine.
"We can only hope and pray that the justice system delivers justice to those who deserve it and to whom it’s due. I know we may be easy targets, but you are condemning the wrong people," dagdag niya.
Inihayag pa ni Maine na dapat lang na ang tunay na may kasalanan ang managot, at nakagagalit umano na makita ang mga tao na nagdurusa dahil sa mga tiwaling pulitiko.
"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," patuloy niya.—FRJ GMA Integrated News
