Albee Benitez

Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Bantug Benitez[fn 1] (born December 20, 1966) is a Filipino politician and businessman serving as the mayor of Bacolod since 2022.

[3] He is credited with creating numerous television programs such as Game Changer for ANC and the variety shows Sunday Noontime Live!

[6] In 2024, Benitez publicly apologized after images emerged online of him and actress Ivana Alawi at an airport in Tokyo, fueling speculation of a relationship.

[7][8] Benitez joined Philippine politics in 2010; he was elected congressman of the 3rd district of Negros Occidental and a representative at the House of Congress.

[citation needed] He was also involved in the implementation of various projects in Negros Occidental, such as the Tourism Highway and Loop of Silay, upgrade and beautification of Bacolod-Silay International Airport roads, and the construction of other bridges and barangay hall buildings.

[12] In June 2019, Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson appointed Benitez as the provincial government's consultant for economics and investments.

[16] In later years, Benitez would become the majority owner and chairman of the gaming firm Leisure & Resorts World Corporation (LRWC), which acquired Bingo Bonanza in October 1999.

He also founded and owns Brightlight Productions, one of the blocktime partners of Cignal Entertainment for TV5, which temporarily houses stars and talents of ABS-CBN and GMA Network.