Jesus is Lord disowns Securities and Exchange Commission executive

MANILA, Philippines - The religious group Jesus is Lord denied yesterday reports that Commissioner Jesus Enrique Martinez of the Securities and Exchange Commission is a member, but admitted that JIL founder Eddie Villanueva endorsed Martinez for the SEC position based on his credentials and qualifications.

“To imply that beleaguered SEC Commissioner Jesus Enrique Martinez is a member of the Jesus is Lord is absurd,” JIL executive secretary Edith Mendoza said. “Based on our records, Commissioner Jesus Martinez has never been a member of JIL.”

On reports that Villanueva had endorsed Martinez for the SEC post, Mendoza clarified that the spiritual leader might have only endorsed him based on his credentials.

“That’s typically Bro. Eddie. He is inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt, especially when they have proof to back them up,” Mendoza said.

However, she added that it would be presumptuous to assume that Martinez got the job just because of the endorsement, and that Bro. Eddie does not have control over how the SEC official conducts his affairs.

The Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list group also distanced itself from the beleaguered commissioner, although he was listed as the group’s third nominee for a congressional seat.

Party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva, son of JIL’s Bro. Eddie, said Martinez “used to be with us a long, long time ago, but not anymore.”

Cibac won enough votes for only two seats in Congress.