Alma Concepcion: “Paki-verify po ang mga petsa.”
ALMA CONCEPCION – The actress came to the defense of actor-turned-politician Congressman Arjo Atayde and his mother, veteran actress Sylvia Sanchez, amid allegations linking their family to ill-gotten wealth and corruption. Concepcion emphasized the importance of checking facts before making accusations, particularly regarding the timeline of when the family acquired their assets.
According to Concepcion, properties such as rest houses and a yacht mentioned in recent reports were already in the family’s possession as early as 2021, while Arjo was only elected to public office in 2022. She urged the public and the media to carefully verify dates before forming judgments. She also pointed to past media features of Sylvia Sanchez’s rest house to show that the property was purchased before Arjo entered politics.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on September 8, 2025, contractor Curlee Discaya directly implicated several lawmakers, including Arjo Atayde. Discaya claimed that certain politicians and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials demanded commissions ranging from 10% to 25% in exchange for approving or expediting projects. He further alleged that if they refused to comply, officials would intentionally create delays or even cancel contracts.
Among the high-profile figures named were House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Appropriations Chair Zaldy Co, Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, Marikina Rep. Marcy Teodoro, and others. Arjo’s inclusion in the list shocked many, given his clean image and relatively recent entry into politics.
A photo of Arjo with the Discayas later resurfaced online, fueling further questions. Arjo clarified that the picture was taken in 2022 during a brief, unplanned visit by the couple to his district office. He firmly denied any involvement in corrupt dealings, stating that he had never engaged in any transactions with them.
His wife, actress Maine Mendoza, also defended him on social media, urging the public not to spread hate and to wait for the complete facts to be revealed before passing judgment.