Mike Defensor
Michael Tan Defensor (Tagalog pronunciation: [dɪfɛnˈsɔɾ], born June 30, 1969) is a Filipino politician serving as the Party-list Representative for ANAKALUSUGAN since 2019.
The Honorable Mike Defensor | |
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 Mike Defensor at a 2007 political rally in Cebu City | |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for ANAKALUSUGAN party-list | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2019 | |
| Malacañang Chief of Staff | |
| In office 2006 – February 10, 2007 | |
| President | Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
| Preceded by | Rigoberto Tiglao |
| Succeeded by | Joey Salceda |
| Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources | |
| In office August 31, 2004 – February 15, 2006 | |
| President | Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
| Preceded by | Elisa Gozun |
| Succeeded by | Angelo Reyes |
| Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council | |
| In office 2001–2004 | |
| President | Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
| Preceded by | Karina Constantino David |
| Succeeded by | Noli de Castro |
| General Manager of the National Housing Authority | |
| In office 2001–2004 | |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Quezon City's 3rd district | |
| In office June 30, 1995 – January 20, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Dennis Roldan |
| Succeeded by | Maria Theresa Defensor |
| Member of the Quezon City Council | |
| In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 30, 1969 Manila, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | People's Reform Party (2009-) Lakas-CMD (2007-2009) Liberal Party (1995-2007) Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1992-1995) |
| Spouse(s) | Julie Rose Tactacan-Defensor |
Defensor began his political career in Quezon City, where he was a member of the city council from 1992 to 1995. He was elected as representative of the city's 3rd district in 1995. In congress, he was a member of the "Spice Boys", a group of young congressmen who led the efforts to impeach President Joseph Estrada. The impeachment trial and widescale protests of the Second EDSA Revolution resulted in Estrada's resignation and Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's accession to the presidency. Defensor went on to serve various positions in the Arroyo administration: general manager of the National Housing Authority, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, and Malacañang Chief of Staff. He was also appointed to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Philippine National Railways.
Education
He finished elementary, Bachelor of Arts in History, and Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines where he became a member of the UP Alpha Sigma Fraternity. He finished his secondary education at Niles McKinley High School in Niles, Ohio. He is married to Julie Rose Tactacan Defensor.
Political career
Quezon City councilor
Defensor was elected as a Quezon City councilor in the 1992 elections at the age of 23, making him the youngest member of that body.
Congressman
Defensor ran for congressman of the third district of Quezon City in the 1995 election, subsequently winning. He won reelection in 1998.
Estrada impeachment
Defensor was part of the Spice Boys of the House of Representatives that spearheaded the filing of the impeachment case against then-president Joseph Estrada.
Arroyo Cabinet
After Edsa II, Defensor was appointed as Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He held that post until August 2004 when he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
In the 2004 presidential election, he served as the official campaign spokesperson of President Arroyo. After his tenure as DENR Secretary he was appointed Presidential Chief of Staff. He resigned that post on February 10, 2007 to campaign for a post in the senate.
In June 2008 he was appointed head of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport International Passenger Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) by virtue of the June 9, Executive Order No. 732 (creating the Presidential Task Force on the NAIA-3 that was "mandated to ensure the immediate opening and operation of Terminal III.") The order provides for the NAIA-3 opening based on decisions of the Supreme Court and applicable laws.[1]
On October 9, 2008, Defensor was named acting chairman of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).[2][3]
Senate candidacy
Defensor was among the first to file for candidacy for the senate on February 12, 2007. He employed popular gossip show host Boy Abunda as his campaign manager.
Controversy
Involvemet in ZTE-NBN scam
Mike Defensor, on July 4, 2008 filed 6-page perjury lawsuit Friday versus Rodolfo Noel Lozada for "testifying under oath that he had paid Lozada P 50,000 to change his statement that he was not kidnapped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) when he arrived from Hong Kong at the height of the Philippine National Broadband Network controversy (ZTE Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited scandal)."[4]
ABS-CBN Franchise controversy
Defensor was the three Congressmen against the ABS-CBN along with Sagip partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and Cavite Seventh District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla, Defensor inititiates online forum via Zoom and streamed live via Facebook along with Representatives Marcoleta, Remulla, Yedda Romualdez, Jonathan Sy-Alvarado, Dan Fernandez, Inno Dy and Alfred delos Santos discussing the fate of ABS-CBN, on July 18, 2020 they discussed the potential takeover of the ill-fated station due to alleged tampered torrens title, fine for alleged illegal sale of ABS-CBN TV Plus for almost P 2 trillion, and the total closure of Sky Cable (as suggested by Rep. LRay Villafuerte on earlier interview), pro-ABS-CBN advocate Christine Bersola-Babao slams the forum and called the Congresspersons as "evil".
Laws authored by Mike Defensor
- RA 8313, An Act upgrading the Quirino Memorial Medical Center
- RA 8976, An Act Requiring the Fortification of Processed Foods with Essential Micronutrients
- An Act Creating the Department of Housing and Urban Development (co-author)
- Dangerous Drugs Act of 1998 (co-author)
- Act Amending the Magna Carta of the Disabled Persons (co-author)
- Act Mandating the Nationwide Rabies Vaccination Program (co-author)
Other positions held
- Chairperson, Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas
- Chairperson, National Movement of Young Legislators
- Chairperson, National Union of Students in the Philippines
- Lord Chancellor, Alpha Sigma Fraternity
- Program Director, Youth Council of the Philippines
Director, Petron Corporation
On December 4, 2007, Mike Defensor quietly joined / was nominated to the board of directors of Petron Corporation (with former budget secretary Emilia Boncodin). Defensor had been frequenting Macau. Boncodin stated that Mike was invited to the board by Nicasio Alcantara, government's team head / Chair, Petron. Membership in the Petron board is a lucrative job, as Defensor was offered a board seat in sequestered United Coconut Planters Bank. Defeated administration candidate, former senator Ralph Recto joined the board of Union Bank, controlled by the Aboitiz family.[5]
References
- Notes
- Abs-Cbn Interactive, Arroyo appoints Mike Defensor as NAIA-3 task force head
- pia.gov.ph PGMA names Defensor, Quevedo and two others to important posts
- sunstar.com, Defensor is new PNR chief Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
- abs-cbnnews.com, Defensor files perjury raps vs Lozada
- "AbsCbn, Defensor joins Petron board". Archived from the original on 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
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