Religious group Jesus is Lord (JIL) and political party, Citizens’ Battle against Corruption (Cibac), denied they have existing links with controversial regulator, Jesus Martinez.

Securities and Exchange commissioner Martinez, according to witnesses in Monday’s senate hearing, received perks in exchange for protecting the financially fledging and now bankrupt Legacy group of financial services firms.

Martinez, who was described as fond of sending text messages with bible quotes, was described in the SEC website as “an officer and senior member of [Cibac].”

Ironically, Cibac is an anti-corruption group. It is widely linked to the religious group, JIL.

Congressman Joel Villanueva, currently Cibac’s representative at the lower house, told abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak, “I am saddened over his fate. But I categorically deny that he is a Cibac member.”

He said that Martinez used to be connected with Cibac as a volunteer lawyer in 2000. “[Martinez] was part of our legal deparment, which has less than 10 people then. He provided legal aid to those who needed it. I remember him as hardworking.”

In 2001, when Cibac was accredited as a political party, Martinez was one of the party’s five nominees. “We needed a lawyer who knows the four corners of the congress,” Villanueva said.

However, Cibac clinched only one seat at that time and it was Villanueva who represented the party in congress.

A year after, in March 14, 2002, Martinez was appointed as SEC commissioner for seven years.

Political supporters

Martinez’s cousin, Paranaque representative Eduardo Zialcita, who was also dragged in the current Legacy mess, reportedly recommended Martinez to President Arroyo for the SEC post.

Both Zialcita and President Arroyo belong to the Lakas political party. Zialcita was one of the congressmen who had voted against several attempts in the Lower House to impeach President Arroyo.

Aside from Zialcita, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, JIL’s founder and 2004 presidential aspirant, reportedly also backed Martinez’s SEC appointment with President Arroyo.

Arroyo has then tapped Jose Calida, a JIL member and Cibac head, to the justice department as an undersecretary. This was reportedly part of previous efforts by the administration to keep Bro. Eddie from running for political office. According to sources familiar with the political appointments then, Martinez’s SEC post was included in the talks between Villanueva and the Arroyo administration.

However, Cibac representative Villanueva, the son of Bro. Eddie, told abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak that Martinez is not connected with JIL.

“He’s not a member of JIL,” the congressman said.