MANILA – The rumors are true.

After months of silence, Arjo Atayde finally admitted that he is “exclusively dating” Maine Mendoza, his co-star in the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles.”

The actor was directly asked by reporters on the sidelines of the press conference for his upcoming movie “Tol” on Tuesday night, as reported by Pep.

“We are exclusively dating, and I’m at my happiest right now,” he said, not giving further details.

When asked what he likes most about Mendoza, the actor simply replied: “A lot of things.”

Atayde went on to challenge the “bashers” of his family and Mendoza to “do it to me in person” so he can fight back.

“I don’t know how to get mad. I don’t know how to disrespect people. I despise disrespectful people. If they disrespect me, it’s fine, though. But for my family to get affected, for Maine to be disrespected… that’s not okay with me,” he said.

“[Do it] in front of me, try it. I dare you guys. I dare you!”

Last December, Mendoza said she and Atayde are simply “friends.”

Photos of Atayde and Mendoza together at various establishments surfaced online last October, prompting fans to speculate that they are dating.