Victorias City Mayor Javi Benitez, son of Bacolod City congressman-elect Albee Benitez, has publicly addressed the growing controversy surrounding his father’s alleged extramarital affair with actress Ivana Alawi.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Javi, who is also an incoming congressman for Negros Occidental, initially expressed reluctance to comment but felt compelled to speak up. He urged understanding and reconciliation between his parents, Dominique “Nikki” Lopez-Benitez and Albee, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect, not only as co-parents but possibly still as a married couple.
“I hope my parents can still understand each other—not just as our parents, but hopefully as partners again,” Javi shared. He reflected on love built on respect and genuine partnership, not wealth or public image.
Javi also appealed to the public for kindness and discernment, urging people to avoid spreading rumors and “paid drama,” and instead focus on meaningful national issues.
His statement comes after social media posts alleged that Nikki filed a complaint under the Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Act against Albee, accusing him of multiple affairs, including one with Alawi. The complaint reportedly was filed in Makati City.
Albee Benitez, through his lawyer Peter Sanchez, denied the accusations, labeling them “baseless and retaliatory.” The legal team also said the complaint surfaced following Benitez’s initiation of annulment proceedings in 2024. While not directly mentioning Alawi, they criticized the inclusion of a third party as a tactic to stir public sentiment.
Rumors linking Alawi to Benitez emerged in early 2024, sparked by alleged sightings in Baguio and Japan. Albee later said their interactions were purely professional and confirmed that he and Nikki had been separated for several years.
Albee, aside from his political role, is also known as the founder of Brightlight Productions and was formerly involved in e-sabong operations through Visayas Cockers Club, Inc.
INQUIRER.net reached out to Alawi’s management for comment, but there has been no official response as of writing.