Lim said the information, which had circulated among business circles and some media outlets, was “based on what I believed at the time to be a credible industry report.”
“I have since learned that the report was fictitious. I deeply regret any confusion or concern that my statement may have caused,” Lim said in a statement on Thursday.
“My sole intent was to underscore the vital importance of integrity in our markets and the devastating impact corruption can have on investor confidence,” he said.
“Let me assure the public that the SEC remains firmly committed to promoting transparency, good governance, and investor protection,” he added.
He urged all sectors to support the Marcos administration’s campaign against corruption. “Together, let us build a capital market — and a nation — founded on integrity and trust,” he said.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
