Jesus Enrique Martinez, a practicing lawyer and consultant, replaced the recently-retired Edijer Martinez (no relations) in the SEC’s five-member collegial body, following his appointment by Malacañang last March.
The 53-year old former politician is a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and associate member of the American Bar Association. He is also founding member of the Christian Legal Society and is connected with other foreign-based groups such as the International Justice Mission in Washington, DC and the Blumenfeld & Cohen Law Group in Geneva.
Martinez was once vice mayor of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental and later provincial board member in the early 80s.
A member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Martinez was a lay preacher, elder, and chairman of the Church Council of Las Piñas and the Fil-American Church in Long Beach, California.
Martinez graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, magna cum laude, and Bachelor of Laws in 1984 from Silliman University, where he was a consistent scholar and Dean’s Lister.
He is married to Cheryl Lynn Jubela with whom he has three children: Michelle Lynn, Monica and Jesus Gianpaolo III.
With his assumption to office last April 1, Martinez joins Chairperson Lilia Bautista and fellow associate commissioners Fe Eloisa Gloria, Joselia Poblador and Juanita Cueto.
His predecessor, Edijer Martinez retired after serving his full seven-year term as associate commissioner and over 30 years in public service, mostly as executive director of the SEC. – Conrado Diaz Jr.