Ivana Alawi denies involvement with Albee Benitez, says she's dating businessman

Ivana Alawi has set the record straight: She is not the girlfriend of Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez.

The vlogger released her official statement on Facebook on Saturday, saying it was the first and last time she’ll speak about the issue.

“I tried to stay quiet at dumedma na lang dahil sa paniniwala ko na hindi ako dapat magsalita lalo kapag alam ko na wala akong ginagawang masama,” she wrote.

“But because of the false accusations and hurtful words that are being thrown [at] my Mom and Mona, kinailangan ko nang linawin ang mga bagay,” she added.

Alawi said she met Benitez, whom she described as “accommodating and friendly,” when she did some work in Bacolod.

“At hindi lang sya ang politikong nakilala ko at naging kaibigan,” she said.

“I am currently seeing someone who makes me happy,” she added. “All I can say is that he is a respectable businessman and not a Politician.”

Alawi and Benitez sparked dating rumors when they were allegedly spotted together at an airport last month. —Hermes Joy Tunac/KG, GMA Integrated News