The Makati City Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed the Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) case filed against Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez by his former wife due to insufficient evidence.
This comes after Benitez’s estranged wife, Dominic “Nikki” Lopez, filed a complaint against him accusing his alleged infidelity, which reportedly involved fathering two children outside of his marriage and having an illicit relationship with actress-vlogger Ivana Alawi, causing her psychological and emotional distress.
In a resolution dated June 23, 2025, Assistant City Prosecutor Mikhail Maverick Tumacder found that the complaint filed by Lopez, lacked the necessary evidence to support her allegations of violations under the Anti-VAWC Act of 2004.
“While this office commiserates with whatever complainant has gone through, the office has to take consideration the lack of evidence to support her case,” the resolution stated.
It also emphasized that under Department Circular No. 15, the standard for filing charges under VAWC requires more than probable cause, specifically, evidence that provides “reasonable certainty of conviction” if the case proceeds to trial
The prosecutors also noted that most of the complainant’s submitted evidence was either “hearsay” or “sourced from newspapers and online materials,” which were deemed to “lack probative value.”
Following the decision, Benitez expressed relief and gratitude in a statement sent to the media, describing the dismissal as a “vindication” and a “manifestation” indicating that “justice in the country is alive.”
The congressman also appealed to the public and the media for space and privacy, saying it is time for “this chapter to be put to rest” and “move forward” from it.
Lopez has yet to issue a statement on the matter, as of writing.
