SHOCKING COMEBACK! Christian Albert Sian Gaza – popularly known as the “National Marites” – has once again become the center of social media attention amid the heated conflict involving Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez, Nicki Lopez Benitez, and Ivana Alawi.

Instead of staying silent, Sian has taken a strong and vocal stance in defending Ivana – a move that further fueled the controversy and sparked mixed reactions from the public and the Benitez family.

Immediately after Ivana’s name was mentioned in Nicki Benitez’s complaint against her husband, Mayor Albee, Sian Gaza took to Facebook to post and livestream his defense of the actress. He openly criticized Nicki.

He questioned, “Why drag Ivana into this when you and your husband have long been separated? Ivana was only 6 years old when you split up. Mrs. Benitez, you’ve been separated from your husband since 2003. Why are you bringing Ivana into this when she was just a child back then?”

Sian didn’t stop there. He repeatedly emphasized that many women have come and gone in Albee’s life over the past two decades, making the targeting of Ivana unreasonable. He added, “You’re destroying the reputation and image of someone who has absolutely nothing to do with your marriage.”

In his posts and livestreams, Sian also questioned Nicki’s motives for filing the complaint. He implied that her actions were vengeful and personally motivated—especially since they’ve been separated for years and Albee has continued to support her financially.

Sian claimed that Nicki seems to want Mayor Albee to suffer, and dragging Ivana into the mess was both senseless and unfair.

After Sian’s livestream went viral, he suddenly deactivated his Facebook account. This came right after a cryptic post by Javi Benitez – Congressman of Victorias City and son of Albee and Nicki – which simply said: “Christian Gaza.”

That post immediately went viral, garnering thousands of comments and reactions. Many people began asking: Where is Sian? Is he afraid of the Benitez family? On Reddit and other platforms, Sian’s sudden disappearance became a hot topic of discussion.

Some speculated that he was merely a “crisis cleaner” working for Ivana and the Benitez family, while others questioned his true motivations. Some believed Sian was using his influence to protect friends, while others suggested he had personal reasons or was even paid off.

Sian Gaza’s role was not just that of a defender but also a voice amplifier for Ivana and the Benitez side. He offered a counter-narrative that cast doubt on the accuser’s motives. His statements made the public more sympathetic toward Ivana, but at the same time, he faced criticism and suspicion—was he bribed, or was he just being loyal to his friends?

Whatever his true intentions were, his sudden social media disappearance highlighted the limitations of digital influence when faced with real political power. His silence triggered further speculation: Was he afraid of legal consequences? Or did he simply want to distance himself from the growing scandal?

The conflict between Ivana Alawi and Mayor Albee Benitez began as a personal issue but quickly escalated into a national concern, especially after an alleged affidavit by Nicki Lopez Benitez surfaced accusing her husband of violating Republic Act 9262 – the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.

In the affidavit, Nicki accused her husband of psychological and financial abuse, stemming from repeated infidelity, deception, and public humiliation. Although rumors had circulated for some time, Nicki said it was only when she read Albee’s petition for annulment that she discovered he had fathered a child with another woman and subtly admitted to being in a relationship with Ivana.

Dragging Ivana – a famous actress and influencer – into the issue only intensified public attention, especially with photos and travel data showing that Ivana and Albee were at the same locations in Japan and elsewhere.

Ivana later denied all allegations, insisting her relationship with the mayor was purely professional and that she was currently dating someone else—not a politician. Albee’s side also stated that he and his wife had long been separated before he met Ivana, making her inclusion in the matter groundless.

The viral spread of the controversy online has sparked a broader discussion on privacy, power, and responsibility—not just for celebrities, but also for institutions, society, and social media users.

This dispute has gone far beyond a simple case of infidelity and now reflects deeper issues involving morality, the law, and the role of media in the Philippines.