Religious group disowns SEC exec in Legacy mess

MANILA, Philippines – Religious group Jesus is Lord (JIL) Movement on Wednesday said the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official implicated in the Legacy financial scandal was never a part of the charismatic Christian church. In a statement, the JIL also called “absurd the reported expulsion of Commissioner Jesus Martinez, who is accused of protecting Celso de los Angeles Jr., owner of the troubled Legacy Consolidated Plans Inc. (LCPI). “That is absurd because in the first place, based on our church records, Commissioner Jesus Martinez has never been a member of the JIL," said Edith Mendoza, executive secretary of JIL founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva. At last Monday’s Senate trade and commerce committee hearing, two former top honchos of LCPI said testified that upon the instructions of De los Angeles, Legacy disbursed money for the purchase of a house whose ownership was transferred to Martinez’ son. Carolina Hiñola, former LCPI chief operating officer, added that she met with Martinez on November 9, 2007, during which she handed to him P1.475 million reportedly as payment for the Ford Expedition acquired by the Rural Bank of San Jose, a company under Legacy Group. Party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva – Bro. Eddie’s son – of the Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) group said that Martinez was part of CIBAC in the 2001 elections but “since then we never heard anything from him." “I am so saddened of his fate, CIBAC is a staunch anti-corruption advocate and am appalled by the revelations in the hearing like all of us. We should not miss the important issue here: this is a trial about corruption and alleged corrupt public officials and no one is above the law," Joel said. Mendoza said the JIL should not be “dragged unjustly" into the matter. “If JIL would continuously be dragged into this mess even after these clarifications were made, it only means that some dirty political minds are cunningly at work here. Hence the association is intentional and politically motivated," she said. Bro. Eddie Villanueva ran for president in the 2004 national elections but lost to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In October 2008, he announced that he may join the presidential race in the forthcoming 2010 polls. - Sophia M. Dedace, GMANews.TV