SEC Commissioner Jesus Enrique Martinez yesterday took exception to claims he delayed action against the collapsed Legacy Group, and reportedly because Legacy owner Celso de los Angeles had stood as a wedding sponsor to one of his children.

“Mr. de los Angeles was not and is not the godfather of any of my children and neither has he ever been invited to any of my family’s affairs, events or celebrations,” Martinez said.

“More so, I have never had any personal relationship whatsoever with Mr. Celso de los Angeles.”

The Securities and Exchange Commission official issued the statement after Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said he would include Martinez among the government and judicial officials to be questioned in another public hearing, and that was amid fresh allegations from two former Legacy Group officers that a number of government officials were “protecting” De los Angeles.

The claims against Martinez were all the more fueled by another claim made before a televised press conference by Philip Piccio, president of a pre-need claimants’ association, that an SEC commissioner was “involved” in the Legacy scam.

“May I clarify that the SEC is a collegial body,” Martinez said.

“No one commissioner has the power to interfere, hinder or delay action pursued against a violator of SEC rules and regulations, which we have all been mandated to uphold.”