Sexy actress and social media sensation Ivana Alawi has been thrust into the spotlight following a bombshell legal complaint reportedly filed by Dominique “Nikki” Lopez Benitez, estranged wife of bilyonaryo Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez.

Based on social media posts, Nikki accused her husband of violating the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (VAWC), citing emotional and psychological abuse allegedly stemming from his extramarital affairs, specifically his current squeeze Ivana.

Nikki allegedly claimed that Albee’s infidelity caused her severe mental and emotional distress.

For years, Nikki reportedly suspected Albee of being unfaithful but never had solid proof until the congressman-elect had filed a petition to annul their marriage which is still pending.

In that legal document, Albee reportedly admitted to fathering two children outside their marriage and strongly hinted at being in a current relationship with Ivana. For Nikki, it was the confirmation she had long feared — and it left her feeling betrayed.

All parties have yet to comment on the emerging scandal rocking high society, corporate circles, and political enclaves.

Dominique “Nikki” Lopez-Benitez has come out swinging against her estranged husband, bilyonaryo mayor and media mogul Albee Benitez, accusing him of emotional abuse and financial abandonment — all while he was allegedly getting cozy with vlogger and actress Ivana Alawi.

In a VAWC (Violence Against Women and Children) case filed last month, Nikki revealed that Albee stopped sending her P200,000 in monthly support five months ago— the same time rumors of his romance with Ivana began swirling online.

“Since December 2024, (Albee) has been remiss with his obligation to provide support to me,” Nikki said, recalling how she gave up her job as a flight attendant at Continental Airlines when they married in 1992 — at Albee’s request, and as documented in their legal filings.

In her VAWC complaint, Nikki named Ivana and other women as Albee’s alleged “mistresses.” She also submitted medical records showing a sharp decline in her mental health, including flare-ups of diverticulitis, which led to her hospitalization in December.

“My emotional turmoil was compounded by (Albee’s) actions when it was rumored he was involved with an influencer,” she said. “Photos of him and Ivana were everywhere, flashing across social media. People kept messaging me with stories about seeing them together, even abroad with her family.”

When she confronted him, Nikki said Albee brushed her off.

“He told me not to worry and said his publicist was working on it — he didn’t even deny it,” she said.

But Ivana isn’t the first woman linked to Albee.

Back in 2004, Nikki said she agreed to a voluntary property split after learning that Albee had fathered a child with former beauty queen Daisy Reyes — a fact Albee later confirmed in court documents.

In 2009, she began hearing whispers of another affair — this time with actress Andrea del Rosario. Nikki said she only confirmed it last year when Albee allegedly admitted in a psychological report that he also had a child with Andrea.

“Each time I discovered he was involved with another woman, I found myself lost, deeply hurt, emotionally and psychologically drained,” Nikki said. “It became a painful pattern.”

She added that Albee “weaponized the legal system” by filing an annulment case in August 2024, flipping the narrative after years of alleged emotional abuse.

Nikki also pushed back against Albee’s claims that they had been separated since 2011. She said he continued living in their Forbes Park home throughout his time in office — from his days as congressman (2010 to 2019) and now as mayor (2022 to 2025).

“There is a limit to what a woman can endure,” Nikki said. “I fulfilled all the duties and responsibilities of a wife and mother, striving to care for and nurture our family with the goal of keeping us whole. My attempts to resolve our marital issues have been in vain, as (Albee) has refused to engage in any communication or make efforts to address the challenges in our marriage.”

Bilyonaryo and congressman-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez has pushed back against what he calls baseless and vindictive accusations filed by his estranged wife, Dominique “Nikki” Lopez-Benitez, under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (RA 9262), following his 2024 annulment filing.

In a statement, Benitez’s legal counsel, Peter Sanchez, questioned the timing and motive of the complaint, which alleges economic and psychological abuse stemming from events as far back as 21 years ago.

“Every property acquired during the marriage—including the multi-million peso residences in Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village—was fully paid for by Mayor Benitez using his own resources, but titled in the name of the complainant, Dominique Lopez-Benitez. This also includes high-value assets such as condominium units, luxury vehicles, and a substantial amount of publicly listed shares, all of which were funded by Mayor Benitez but registered under her (Nikki’s) name,” Sanchez said..

Sanchez said that despite a court-ordered dissolution of their property regime in 2004, Benitez continued to shoulder not just basic support but an elevated standard of living for his wife and her extended family for more than 20 years. This included Nikki’s travel, business ventures, staff, and credit card charges—even long after their separation.

What Benitez finds especially “unsettling” is the dragging of an “unrelated third party” into the case, calling it a clear attempt to manipulate public opinion. Nikki dropped Benitez’s latest flame. actress Ivana Alawi, in her VACS case. “This is a private matter. Involving individuals who have no bearing on the legal issues only inflames the situation and distracts from the facts,” his camp said.

He also warned that this tactic may violate Section 44 of RA 9262, which protects the confidentiality of all parties involved in such cases. “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.

Sanchez warned that the unwarranted disclosure of identities and unverified claims is a clear violation of Section 44 of R.A. 9262, which explicitly mandates the confidentiality of all proceedings and the protection of all parties involved.

Benitez reaffirmed his full cooperation with the authorities and expressed confidence that documentary evidence—financial records, asset titles, and witness statements—will disprove the claims made against him.

“We ask the public and media to respect due process and avoid sensationalizing a deeply personal and complex issue,” he said.