(From left) Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez denied his airport sighting with Ivana Alawi. Images: Facebook/Albee Benitez, Instagram/@ivanaalawi
Shortly after Ivana Alawi denied involvement with Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez, the politician also broke his silence on the issue, citing an alleged video of them being spotted at an airport en route to Tokyo, Japan.
In a statement on Facebook on Sunday, Benitez said that his airport sighting with Alawi was “clearly a chance encounter” as he was traveling to Japan for a “business trip.”
“I am fully aware of the video footage that has been circulating which unfortunately does not accurately explain why I was in Tokyo. I went there on a business trip as stated in my official travel order,” he said. “Speculations involving Ms Ivana Alawi are untrue and only serve to put malice into what was clearly a chance encounter.”
The Bacolod-based politician then apologized to Alawi and her family after they were “unfairly dragged into issues” in his private life, saying “there’s no truth” about his alleged involvement with the actress.
“I apologize to Ms Alawi and her family who have been unfairly dragged into issues concerning my private life,” he said. “There is no truth to [all] the rumors spreading and I am setting the record straight to avoid further hurt and damage to them. Maraming salamat po (Thank you very much).”
Benitez and Alawi were accused of being in a relationship after netizens claimed they were seen enjoying trips together in Baguio and Japan. Showbiz insider Ogie Diaz also reported their alleged involvement in his vlog on Feb. 6, while citing anonymous sources.
Alawi also firmly denied being in a relationship with Benitez on her Facebook page on Feb. 10. She, however, revealed that she’s in a relationship with a “respectable businessman” in her statement.
On the other hand, the Bacolod City-based politician said he and his wife Nikki haven’t been together for “several years” although it was denied by the latter.