Albee Benitez Responds to Wife’s Allegations
ALBEE BENITEZ – The Bacolod City mayor, through his legal counsel, Atty. Peter Sanchez has issued a formal statement in response to the Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) complaint filed by his estranged wife, Dominique Lopez-Benitez.
According to Atty. Sanchez, Mayor Benitez strongly denies what he described as “baseless and retaliatory” allegations of economic and psychological abuse. The mayor believes the complaint was driven by personal motives and was filed shortly after he initiated annulment proceedings in 2024, casting doubt on the sincerity and timing of the accusations.
The complaint, filed under Republic Act 9262, reportedly includes claims dating back more than 20 years. Benitez’s camp emphasized that all assets acquired during the marriage, such as luxury homes in Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village, high-end cars, condominiums, and shares of stock, were paid for entirely by the mayor but registered under Dominique’s name.
Despite the legal dissolution of their property regime in 2004, the mayor said he continued to provide generous financial support to Dominique and her extended family. This included covering personal expenses, household needs, travel, business ventures, and credit card bills, even long after their separation.
Atty. Sanchez expressed concern that the case has now involved a third party who, according to him, has no connection to the core issue. He said naming this third party is a clear distraction meant to stir public emotion and shift attention away from the actual complaint. He also reminded the public that Section 44 of the VAWC law ensures the confidentiality of all parties and proceedings, and that revealing names is a violation of this rule.
The third party referred to is actress and content creator Ivana Alawi, whom Dominique named in her affidavit as Mayor Benitez’s alleged mistress. Dominique claimed the ongoing affair has caused her significant emotional distress.