Quezon City 1st district Rep. Arjo Atayde (left) and his wife Maine Mendoza (Facebook)

Quezon City 1st district Rep. Arjo Atayde's three-week, personally-funded trip to Europe was green-lit by the House of Representatives as early as last month.

The actor-turned-congressman was issued a travel authority for his "Official travel to Switzerland, Italy and Greece on 05--27 August 2023" last July 10 by the House leadership.

The travel authority numbered IPRS-0723-PT2495, and accompanying certification were signed by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.

"This is to authorize your Honor to travel to Switzerland to witness the will witness the international screening of the movie Topakk during the 2023 Locarno International Film Festival, in your capacity as vice chairperson of the Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts," the travel authority read.

Atayde, a neophyte lawmaker in the 19th Congress, was also authorized to go to "Italy and Greece to visit the Filipino communities".

As for the certification, it indicated that Atayde "did not request for any funding from the House of Representatives and said travel will be at his own expense".

Atayde and his longtime girlfriend, popular showbiz personality Maine Mendoza, got married last July 28 in Baguio in the Philippines.