Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez on Thursday, May 29, denied alleged economic and psychological abuse allegations hurled against him by his estranged wife, Dominique Lopez-Benitez.
“Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez firmly denies the baseless and retaliatory allegations made against him by his estranged spouse under Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, for alleged economic and psychological abuse,” a press release issued by his lawyer Peter Sanchez said on Thursday evening, May 29.
The VAWC case was filed shortly after the Bacolod mayor initiated annulment proceedings in 2024, raising serious doubts about the complainant’s motives, said Sanchez, in response to social media posts on the case.
The VAWC complaint hinges on allegations dating back as far as 21 years ago, Sanchez said.
“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”, he said.
“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 name,” he added.
Despite a judicial dissolution of their property regime in 2004, the mayor continued to provide not just ordinary support but a high standard of living, shouldering personal, household, and even extended family expenses for more than two decades, Sanchez said.
This included the complainant’s travel, business ventures, staff, and credit card charges-even long after their separation, he added.
“It is equally unsettling that a third party has been unnecessarily dragged into this private matter. 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,” the lawyer said.
Section 44 of R.A. 9262 explicitly mandates the confidentiality of all proceedings and parties involved. The unwarranted disclosure of identities and unverified claims constitutes a clear violation of this provision, he added.
“Mayor Benitez remains fully cooperative with all legal processes and is confident that the evidence – financial records, property documents, and testimonies – will disprove these false and vindictive claims,” Sanchez said.
“We respectfully ask the public and the media to allow the legal system to take its course and to refrain from the unethical practice of sensationalizing this case,” he added.*