Ivana Alawi alleged as mistress of film producer-politician Albee Benitez
Ivana Alawi (left) and Bacolod City congressman-elect Albee Benitez
Ivana Alawi is being accused as the alleged mistress of Bacolod congressman-elect Mayor Albee Benitez in a purported criminal complaint for violence against women and children (VAWC) filed by his estranged wife, Dominique “Nikki” Lopez-Benitez, in Makati.
A copy of Lopez-Benitez’s supposed complaint started circulating in social media on Thursday, wherein Alawi was mentioned to have been in an illicit relationship with Benitez, who is the outgoing mayor of Bacolod City. On top of this, Lopez-Benitez also accused her husband of fathering two other “illegitimate children.”
Benitez, through a statement released by his lawyer Peter Sanchez to the media, denied the allegations for being “baseless and retaliatory,” saying this made the complainant’s motive doubtful.
According to the statement, the release of the VAWC complaint was released after Benitez initiated annulment proceedings in 2024.
“Mayor Alfredo Abelardo ‘Albee’ Benitez firmly denies the baseless and retaliatory allegations made against him by his estranged spouse under Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, for alleged economic and psychological abuse. This case was filed shortly after Mayor Benitez initiated annulment proceedings in 2024, raising serious doubts about the complainant’s motives,” the statement read.
On the matter of Alawi’s supposed involvement with him, Benitez’s lawyer made no mention of the actress, but accused his wife of “unnecessarily dragging” a third party into their marital affairs, and that the latter had the intention of “[diverting] attention and aflame public sentiment” in her favor.
“It is equally unsettling that a third party has been unnecessarily dragged into this private matter. The mention of individuals unrelated to the merits of the case only serves to divert attention and inflame public sentiment in the complainant’s favor,” Sanchez said.
“Section 44 of Republic Act 9262 (VAWC law) explicitly mandates the confidentiality of all proceedings and parties involved. The unwarranted disclosure of identities and unverified claims constitutes a clear violation of this provision,” he further said.
The congressman-elect will nonetheless cooperate with the necessary legal matters regarding his estranged wife, the statement read.
“Mayor Benitez remains fully cooperative with all legal processes and is confident that the evidence — financial records, property documents, and testimonies — will disprove these false and vindictive claims. We respectfully ask the public and the media to allow the local system to take its course and to refrain from the unethical practice of sensationalizing this case,” said Sanchez.
Alawi and Benitez first addressed romance rumors in February 2024 after they were supposedly spotted by eagle-eyed netizens on trips to Baguio and Japan. Benitez also claimed in a separate statement that his interactions with Alawi are merely “professional,” and that he and his wife Nikki have not been together for “several years.”
Aside from his political endeavors, Benitez is also a businessman, being the founder of Brightlight Productions, which is involved in TV and film production, and as blocktimer in several TV networks. He was also involved in the gaming business through his other company, Visayas Cockers Club, Inc. which was a licensee of Pagcor to operate e-sabong, though this was later on revoked by former President Duterte.
INQUIRER.net has reached out to Alawi’s manager Perry Lansigan and her management, Star Magic, but they have yet to address the legal claims made against her. /edv
