Palace distances self from Legacy mess

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Monday distanced itself from the bribery issue hounding a Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) official in connection with the collpase of Legacy Consolidated Plans Inc. In a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said it would be better to wait until the Senate concludes its probe on the Legacy controversy before the Palace takes necessary action against Commissioner Jesus Martinez. “Ongoing pa ang hearing na 'yun so palagay ko mas maganda na hintayin natin ang results ng hearing. Kung talagang may makikitang ebidensya then the Palace will look into that," Fajardo said. [“The Palace is waiting for the results of the Senate hearing. If there is evidence against Martinez then the Palace will look into that."] Martinez oversees the SEC Non-traditional Securities and Instruments Department that has direct supervision over pre-need companies. He was earlier accused by two former officials of Legacy Plans of having a special relationship with company owner Celso de los Angeles Jr. Earlier during the Senate hearing, Caroline Hiñola, former chief executive officer of LCPI, bared that Legacy allegedly bought a multi-million peso house and lot in Parañaque for Martinez. Hiñola also revealed that in November 2007, she personally handed Martinez P1.475 million as payment for a Ford Expedition De los Angeles was allegedly acquiring from Martinez. And all these money, Hiñola said, came from the Legacy-affiliated Rural Bank of San Jose. Both Martinez and De los Angeles denied the accusations. Also during the hearing, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile asked Martinez to resign from his post due to his connection with De los Angeles, who was also accused of using LCPI's funds in his mayoralty bid in Sto. Domingo town in the 2007 elections. Fajardo however said they are mulling the possibility of ordering Martinez to take a leave of absence while the probe is still ongoing. "That can be taken into consideration," she said. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV