Arjo Atayde, Maine Mendoza deny trip to Switzerland, Greece, Italy is ‘official’; INQUIRER.net stands by story
Arjo Atayde and Maine Mendoza. Image: Instagram/@mainedcm
Updated 10:44 AM, August 2, 2023
Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde and his wife, actress-TV host Maine Mendoza denied an INQUIRER.net article that their trip to Switzerland, Italy and Greece is “official” in nature, saying their trip is a personal expense.
The newlyweds took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their displeasure about the story, with Mendoza claiming that the story is “misleading and false.”
“Arjo will go to Locarno as his film is part of the Locarno film fest. Our personal trip after that is at personal expense… out of our own pockets,” she said.
Screenshot from Maine Mentoza’s post on X.
“Next time yung magagaling nating netizens, kung walang time mag fact-check, huwag padalos-dalos sa pag react. Mema minsan. Pati kayo nagpapaloko sa maling balita at impormasyon. Sayang ang pagiging ‘woke’ kung lahat nalang papaniwalaan,” she further said in another post.
Mendoza was referring to the 76th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland wherein Atayde’s movie “Topakk,” helmed by director Richard Somes, was recognized anew, as per a press release from Atayde’s camp.
Atayde, for his part, said the article was “disappointing.”
The couple eventually deleted their posts.
However, on Wednesday morning, Mendoza again posted on her X account saying this follow-up story was “misleading and lacking context.”
“It insinuates that this trip is at government expense. There are two kinds of ‘official’ travels and I hope you include that in your article and where this trip falls under. I will probably be asked to delete this again but I shall say it again one last time, EVERYTHING is at PERSONAL EXPENSE. 100%. No government funds will be used,” she said.
The article is still misleading and lacking context. It insinuates that this trip is at government expense. There are two kinds of “official” travels and I hope you include that in your article and where this trip falls under. I will probably be asked to delete this again but I… https://t.co/uVHgQAF5gS
— Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm) August 2, 2023
INQUIRER.net is standing by the story, as this is backed by documents, and obtained from highly-placed sources. It is also not inclined to disclose its sources. A document secured by INQUIRER.net, however, was clear on the destinations covered by the “official trip.”
Nowhere in our articles was it insinuated that government money was involved in their travel.
READ: House: No public funds for Arjo Atayde, Maine Mendoza’s Europe trip
In the first article, it was mentioned that the Ataydes’ trip to Switzerland, Greece and Italy will happen from Aug. 5 to 27, and which was labeled “official” as part of his position as vice chairperson of the House special committee on creative industry and performing arts.
This was based on the statement released by Atayde’s office to media.
“Newlywed couple Quezon City first district Congressman Juan Carlos ‘Arjo’ Atayde and Maine Mendoza-Atayde will be heading to Europe on an official trip as Vice Chairperson of the Special Committee in the Congress on Creative Industry and Performing Arts on August 5,” a portion of the press release stated.
“Despite the fact that he will be on official trip from August 5 to 27, Atayde will be working remotely while even he is away since his work in the congress and in his district, among other venues, are endless,” it further said. EDV
