Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez defended his side by saying that the video footage circulating online in which he and actress Ivana Alawi were spotted together in Tokyo, Japan, was only a "chance encounter."

"I am fully aware of the video footage that has been circulating which unfortunately does not accurately explain why I was in Tokyo. I went there on a business trip as stated in my official travel order," Benitez said in a statement released on Sunday, Feb 11.

"Speculations involving Ms Ivana Alawi are untrue and only serve to put malice into what was clearly a chance encounter," he added.

Benitez sought an apology to Ivana's family for being dragged into issues concerning the mayor's "private life."

The Bacolod City Mayor reiterated that the rumors were only false accusations.

"There is no truth to any and all the rumors spreading and I am setting the record straight to avoid further hurt and damage to them," he said.

Meanwhile, Ivana also denied the allegations, saying she is currently dating a "respectable businessman" and not a politician.